By Isaac Murphy
Capalaba’s Straight of Origin Series is back with a vengeance in 2021.
Last week's heats pitted Queensland and New South Wales against each other to establish this week's eight-dog Final, with four from each state fighting it out for the $14,000 winners cheque, but more importantly bragging rights for their state.
The Queensland team includs fastest qualifier and former Capalaba Cup winner Hara’s Clyde for Tony Brett, Pete O’Reilly’s Zabdon Adesanya and Terry Priest’s Magical Trav.
However, it was Selena and Mick Zammit’s recently converted Queenslander Oliver Keeping who turned heads at just his third Capalaba start.
“We were hopeful of representing Queensland in the Final, he did have some form up the straight," Mick Zammit said.
"His second run for us back in March he went 19.72 and he’s improved since then, so it wasn’t a total surprise to see him finish less than two lengths off a dog (Hara’s Clyde) who ran 19.40 on Sunday.
“That was still a big challenge coming up against dogs who race up the straight every week, he’s still a bit green at the jump and wanted to race all over the track, so here’s hoping he’s got some improvement in him this week.
“He’s going to need to go quicker as well, the four New South Wales dogs are all class headed by Louis Rumble who’s a jet up the straight and on the circle, I’m just hoping we don’t run any of our other Queenslanders over and cost us the race.”