Russell hoping litter sisters can quinella Ipswich feature

By Wayne Heming

Gold Coast hinterland trainer Darren Russell is hoping his litter sisters Savanna Beach and Swift Beach can quinella the Final of the Corporate Dollars Challenge over 520 metres at Ipswich Showgrounds on Saturday night.

Both the Bernardo and Poonyahra bitches impressed in their heat wins with Savanna Beach (box three) leading throughout to beat Bluey Is Boujee while Swift Beach streeted her rivals from the red box.

Russell isn’t surprised the sibling pups both made the decider.

“They both broke in fast times and their winning strike rates are almost 50 per cent,” Russell said.

The two greyhounds boast a 47 percent strike rate winning 14 of their 30 starts between them.

The draw for the Final favours Savanna Beach who has secured the one box while Swift Beach will have to work her way over to the rails from box seven.

“The blue bitch (Swift Beach) is a little bit stronger, but there’s not much between them speed wise, but she is a bit stronger over the 500 metres at this stage,” Russell said. 

Savanna Beach has an impeccable record with two starts out of the one box, saluting both times.

“She’ll lead,” Russell said confidently.

Russell said both his dogs performed as he expected in the heats from their good boxes.

“I liked their early speed and how they went up the back. They ran close to 13 seconds up the back straight – that’s flying," he said. 

“You want to be in front if you clock 13 seconds up the back.

“If Savanna Beach is running that sectional in the Final, she’ll be hard to run down, I’m telling you.”

Russell though would not write off kennelmate Swift Beach if she is ‘in touch’.

“From her box draw Savanna Beach will go straight, but Swift Beach will want to come across from out wide,” he said.

“She’ll have her work cut out getting across, but she has the speed to be there and can finish strongly. She ran the best time of the night in her heat win.”

Born To Rave (box six) and reserve, Blue Art, have been scratched with the second reserve, Lucky Bundy, trained by Shane Topping, getting a late call-up in box six. 

Russell could quinella the race with a bit of luck early.

“Of course, I’d like to quinella the race,” he said.

“I don’t want to share anything with Paul McIlveen (fellow trainer). He’s got a couple of runners in the race so there’s a bit of friendly rivalry there."