Courtesy of The Dogs website

Thunder Warning For The Derby

02/02/09
Northern Rivers trainer Neil Falls looks set to record his greatest training achievement with prized dog Genista Thunder after he drew the coveted rails alley for Friday night’s $50,000 to the winner Group One Newcastle Herald National Derby Final at The Gardens.

Coming into the series as one of the lesser lights, Genista Thunder rocketed to finals favouritism with a sizzling 29.48 second victory in his semi final last Friday afternoon. Jumping to the front, he had Group One Silver Chief winner Fedex breathing down his neck the entire journey yet raced away from him in the straight for a three length victory.

Having drawn next to Fedex in the final, it might be déjà vu as the two go head to head once again for Group One honours. Local sprinters Snozz and Big Tee Mac will have their share of supporters after both having an excellent series to date while Anthony Azzopardi’s speedy chaser Snell To Excel is a live chance from out wide.


Group One Newcastle Herald National Derby Final (515m)
$50,000 to-the-winner

BOX ONE GENISTA THUNDER
Heat: 2nd running 29.75 seconds, beaten by Dazzle You
Semi Final: 1st running 29.48 seconds, beating Fedex by 3 lengths

Beat off Group One winner Fedex with ease in his semi final and as the over used saying goes, “boxes win finals”. Looks the likely leader from the inside and if he can hold off Snell To Excel into the first bend, he will prove hard to run down on the leader friendly track.

BOX TWO FEDEX
Semi Final: 2nd running 29.68 seconds, beaten by Genista Thunder

He looked set for victory when he flanked Genista Thunder out of the first bend in their semi final but couldn’t run down the Northern Rivers flyer in best of the day time. Box suits and if he can begin cleaner, will be a major threat.

BOX THREE SURFIN’ SILENCE
Heat: 7th running 30.27 seconds, beaten by Snell To Excel & Snozz
Semi Final: 1st running 30.14 seconds, beating Sydney Vella by 0.25 lengths

He came from nowhere last week to swamp the leading brigade including Smash Repair and Last Man Out to score a narrow victory. Has risen from a seventh in his heat to a finals berth but has a big job to keep the fairytale going on.

BOX FOUR BIG TEE MAC
Heat: 1st running 29.69 seconds, beating True Kihael by 1.75 lengths
Semi Final: 2nd running 29.76 seconds, beaten by Snozz

Prepared by rising star trainer Natalie Atchinson, Big Tee Mac has overcome poor box draws in both heat and semi final to storm into the final with big intentions of delivering a win. While the middle alley combined with railer Snozz on his outside won’t help, don’t discard the tenacious qualities of this sprinting prodigy.

BOX FIVE SNOZZ
Heat: 3rd running 29.93 seconds, beaten by Snell To Excel & Shady Chaos
Semi Final: 1st running 29.64 seconds, beating Big Tee Mac by 1.75 lengths

Already a National Sprint Championship and Vic Peters Classic finalist, Snozz has no qualms about competing in the pressure cooker that is Group One racing but will need all that experience from a tricky middle box. If he gets to the first bend cleanly, look for him to impose over the final stages.

BOX SIX SYDNEY VELLA
Heat: 3rd running 30.04 seconds, beaten by Smash Repair & Dashing Corsair
Semi Final: 2nd running 30.16 seconds, beaten by Surfin’ Silence

Bound to start close to the outsider of the field, Sydney Vella is a hardened sprinter who has beaten the likes of Cindeen Shelby and can turn up at big odds when expected to not be in the finish.

BOX SEVEN SNELL TO EXCEL
Heat: 1st running 29.54 seconds, beating Shady Chaos by 4.75 lengths
Semi Final: 2nd running 29.94 seconds, beaten by Eighth Wonder

Series favourite after his all the way 29.54 second heat win, he has since relinquished that tag to Genista Thunder after disappointing in his semi final behind Eighth Wonder. A noted quick beginner, he can bounce back but needs to lead to be collecting the winner’s cheque.

BOX EIGHT EIGHTH WONDER
Heat: 5th running 30.35 seconds, beaten by Dazzle You & Genista Thunder
Semi Final: 1st running 29.84 seconds, beating Snell To Excel by 1.25 lengths

Victorian who will enter the final in the shadow of more famed statesman Fedex but was impressive in his 29.84 second semi final triumph. Faces a task to cross Snell To Excel here and will need all the breaks to replicate last weeks success.

1st EMERGENCY VARGAS
Heat: 8th running 30.28 seconds, beaten by Snell To Excel, Snozz & Surfin’ Silence
Semi Final: 3rd running 30.15 seconds, beaten by Genista Thunder & Fedex

2nd EMERGENCY LAST MAN OUT
Heat: 7th running 31.03 seconds, beaten by Dazzle You, Genista Thunder & co.
Semi Final: 3rd running 30.16 seconds, beaten by Surfin’ Silence & Sydney Vella