Smile! Cheese Ya Later ready to rail in McKenna


He may be one of the outsiders in the races, but Lara trainer Darren Fisher is confident of a bold showing from Cheese Your Later in Thursday night’s $58,000 group 2 McKenna Memorial final.

The three-and-a-half-year-old son of leading sire Barcia Bale caused a major upset in his heat when defeating the likes of Shima Song and Bewlidering to score in 34.56 at luxury odds of $23.

“I was very happy with the win, he just seems to be improving every week,” Fisher told Sky Sport Radio’s Going Greyhounds program.

“His run the week before was quite good and was ridiculous odds I thought.”

Cheese Ya Later was the last away in his heat but as is his style, railed brilliantly to trail only the early leader Shima Song into the back straight. From there, Fisher was confident of qualifying for the final.

“He made ground when they went past us at the 595m boxes and I thought he’s a good chance from here because once he finds the fence he never leaves and rails. I suppose the hoop arms helps because he sits on the fence where other dogs sit out in the middle of the track.”

Tab.com.au has rated Cheese Ya Later a $21 chance for the final where he will come up against the likes of five-time group 1 winner Fanta Bale, reigning Sandown Greyhound of the Year Dundee Osprey, and fastest heat winner Bella Shima. Despite the step up in class, Fisher believes that Cheese Ya Later is racing well enough to be competitive in this company, especially after drawing favourably in box 2.

“It’s a big help for him, he likes the fence,” he continued.

“It’s a big step again for him and a lot will depend on the other dogs in the race, but the If he can begin in the first two or three it can be very hard to cross from the wide boxes with pace underneath.

“There’s a lot of ifs and buts in the race – like any race – but it’s nice to be in it and hopefully we’re competitive.”

TAB is projecting $50,000 First4 pool on Thursday night’s the McKenna Memorial, which will jump as race 6 at 7.52pm.

Fanta Bale is the current even money favourite after winning her heat and drawing box 3 for the final.

Click here for a summary of the heats and box draw for the final.
Click here for the latest market from TAB.
Click here for full fields and form.

Cheese Ya Later wins his heat of the McKenna Memorial in 34.51

DFD

Mick Floyd
About Mick Floyd - Mick is the Racing and Media Manager at Sandown Park and has 15 years of experience in the sport. He has a finely tuned talent for finding three legs of a quaddie. You can follow his ramblings on Twitter - @mickfloyd
View all posts