Stella chance of winning Capalaba Young Guns prize

By Mike Hill 

Adjourned's chances in Sunday's $11,600 Young Guns Final at Capalaba hinge very much on his start.

That's the message from trainer Greg Stella.

"We're happy with the dog, he's going well," the Park Ridge-based conditioner said. 

"But, he can be a bit risky at box rise. He needs a good start."

And, in saying that, Stella, who also has Red Ranger (box seven) in the race, admitted: "We're going into the Final with not a lot of confidence.

"It's a very good field of young dogs."

Despite the trainer's concerns, Adjourned (from an Aussie Infrared and Inspired Hope litter) was at his very best last weekend, nailing the start and racing to an impressive heat victory.

The 19.57 second run was also a personal best for the talented chaser.

The black sprinter has drawn box one in the Final and although Stella said it was OK, he suggested most of the runners would head towards the middle of the track.

He said the sprinter would have to be at his best, particularly at the start.

"Adjourned is very consistent and always puts in 100 per cent," Stella said.

"He's been well schooled and has a good record at the track."

Adjourned has an impressive five wins and a second from six starts at Capalaba.

"He's still only a young dog and he has ability," Stella said. 

"We're just  hoping he gets a clear run and he's in the finish."

And, what about kennel mate Red Ranger?

"He's a few lengths off the better dogs in the race," Stella said.

"He's done well to get to the Final, but he'll be one of the outsiders."

The $7,540-to-the-winner Final is chock-full of quality and depth.

It includes recent feature winners Saanvi (The Golden Chase) and Golden Bear (Eric Thomson Memorial), who both qualified on Thursday night for the $45,000 Brisbane Young Guns Final at Albion Park next week.

Meanwhile, the Mathew Vincent-prepared Hotel Whisky One heads into Sunday's Final as the fastest heat winner.

Hotel Whisky One scorched over the Capalaba grass last Sunday in 19.45 seconds - 0.23 seconds outside Leeroy Rogue's track record of 19.22 seconds, which was set in October of 2016.

The other heat winners were Royal Warren for Cynthia Elson in 19.68 seconds, Big Chief Size (trained by Mick Vaughan) in 19.66 seconds and the Dave Irwin-trained Lukey Valley in 19.78 seconds.