By Isaac Murphy
Trainer Travis Elson says Silver Stunner couldn’t be travelling any better leading into Thursday Night’s Publican’s Cup Final, as the strong chaser looks for five wins in a row in the feature event of the night.
The Zillmere Sports Club will be represented by Silver Stunner who jumps from the eight box and patrons have reason to be confident coming off an impressive 29.84 heat win last week, backed up by a 29.90 victory on Monday.
Elson said he chose to run his bitch twice in a week in preparation for a step up to 600 metres and he couldn’t be happier with how she came through the run.
“The way she pulled up from Monday night was outstanding,” he said.
“She’s only young and this is the first time I’ve tried racing her more than once a week and she’s handled it well, so all things considered it’s looking like she’s going to be able to handle the staying trips down the track.”
Although her future may lie over the longer trips Elson is optimistic about his charges chances Thursday night.
“The only issue is that she’s drawn wide and doesn’t have a lot of early speed and will be wanting to get down to the rail,” he said
“If she can possie up midfield past the winning post the first time and be within six of them I think she’ll be too strong.”
While Elson is confident in Silver Stunner’s run on ability he identified a key runner that could shape her chances.
“The key runner is going to be Champagne Sally, if she leads we can’t run Champagne Sally down but there’s two sides to Champagne Sally, if she doesn’t lead she’s a different bitch,” he said.
“My dog though she’s a pretty smart race bitch in the sense if she can’t get to the rail from the eight, she’s likely to track three wide around that first turn until she can get in, she’s pretty sensible like that.”
A rising two and a half year old Elson is assured Silver Stunner is in the best order of her career.
“The good thing with my bitch she’s as honest as they come, she’d have to get knocked down to not be there in the finish the way she’s racing at the moment,” he said
“She’s the best we’ve ever had her, she’s coming through each race that much stronger she’s really matured into a nice dog.”
While the immediate focus is on the Publican’s Cup Elson has a strong plan in place for his chaser’s future.
“She’s always been a get back run on dog and my intentions have always been to step her up to the 600, but with her coming on season and the way things have worked out has just held up the process a bit,” he said.
“Her run homes have shown she’ll handle the extra trip, her closing sectional last week was 12.40 which puts her in pretty elite company.”
“We’ll see how she goes over the 600 at Albion at first and if she does step up and handle it we might look at some feature races.”
Thursday night shapes as a big one for the Elson kennel who also suit up a live chance in the other feature of the night the Lightning final.
“The kennel is flying at the moment, I’ve got So Crazy in the Lightning Final tomorrow as well, she’s won eight of her thirteen starts,” Elson said.
“Most of her wins (So Crazy) have been out of six and seven so it’s not a bad draw, but I’m wary it’s a hard race she’s up against a lot of older dogs in that field.”
“She’ll be roaring down the outside it’s just a matter of whether she can get across them or not.”