Big Flood charged into the Crocmedia National Sprint Championship after recording a commanding victory in the Victorian final at Sandown Park last night.
The Seona Thompson trained sprinter entered the final with unblemished record from the inside box and quickly showed why, beginning cleanly and railing strongly beneath Lila Bale to establish a race winning margin down the back straight and hold holding off the gallant Shadale by 2¼ length in 29.43.
“It was a fantastic win,” his ecstatic trainer told Sky Racing’s James van de Maat following the win.
“We were pretty rapt when he came up with box 1 but you still have to use it to your advantage and that’s what he did tonight.”
Big Flood burst on to the scene early in 2017, winning eight of his first nine starts including an emphatic victory in the listed Australia Sprint at Sandown Park in 29.18. However the son of Banjo Boy has endured a torrid run of bad luck and injury throughout the majority of his career. Indeed, a limited preparation threatened to again derail his feature race ambitions however Thompson couldn’t have been happier with his performance in the series so far and and is confident her charge can break through in the $105,000 group 1 Cromedia National Sprint Championship grand final.
“Last week going into the heat he hadn’t had a huge amount of work and it was bit of a rush to get him up for the race, so for him to win last week was really exciting for all involved and to draw the red in tonight’s final was great.
“He’s improving each week and his confidence is pretty high at the moment. He’s done really well since he’s come back from injury and that’s a huge things for dogs, to have their confidence up high and his is definitely there.”
Big Flood will lead a team of three chasers aiming to capture just the fourth National Sprint title for Victoria in the last 13 years, with Shadale and Hasten Slowly joining him in the series decider at Sandown Park on Friday 24 August.
Earlier in the night, Tornado Tears showed everyone why he’s regarded the country’s top stayer with an emphatic victory in the Crocmedia National Distance Championship.
Click here for a wrap of the Crocmedia National Sprint Championship.
Click here for the latest National Distance Championship market from tab.com.au
Click here for results from last night’s meeting
Big Flood races into the Crocmedia National Sprint Championship Grand Final
