News
19 December, 2024
Stars Aligning For Sunset Frazier In The Phoenix
THE stars appear to be aligning in more ways than one for Sunset Frazier ahead of Saturday night’s $1 million-to-the-winner The Phoenix (525m).
THE WA wonder dog will represent slot holder Total Container Solutions who are no strangers to slot race success, landing the inaugural The Sandgroper in the west at Cannington with Crumble Monelli in 2023.
Like Crumble Monelli, Sunset Frazier is bred and raced by leading WA conditioner Dave Hobby while the star chaser will also exit box four, the same draw Crumble Monelli had en route to his epic The Sandgroper success.
FIELDS AND FORM THE MEADOWS SATURDAY NIGHT
“We are hoping history repeats – there’s a bit there in common,” declared Sunset Frazier’s Victorian trainer Jeff Britton, also part of the Total Container Solutions slot holder consortium.
“His lead up has been really good. You are cautious with all your dogs but maybe this week we’ve been that extra bit cautious.
“The main thing is that he gets his chance to get into the race from box four. His first stride can be tardy but once he hits the ground he really takes off.”
Takes off he does.
Winner at 16 of his 34 starts, Sunset Frazier has broken three second split records in his career to date, firstly at Cannington, then at The Gardens before eclipsing Fernando Bale’s long standing record mark at Sandown Park in a heat of the Melbourne Cup recently.
In the countdown to The Phoenix, the Total Container Solutions team had been wrestling between going with Million Dollar Chase hero Blue Kermaro or Sunset Frazier as their runner in the $1.65m showpiece.
“It ended up going down to a vote and it’s one of those things where there is no wrong answer,” Britton said.
“But for me I kept asking how often does a dog with speed like this come by? To break one split record is one thing but to break three – at top tracks – is a whole other thing.
“In these races you want speed and that’s what he’s got. Now he just needs the chance to use it.”
Sunset Frazier rounded out his The Phoenix preparations with a recent box-to-box trial at The Meadows where he ran 5.02 early before stopping the clock in 17.53 up the back.
Britton had considered giving the star chaser two looks at the circuit but saw all he needed to see in the trial hit-out.
“I couldn’t have been happier with how he handled the track; getting a second one in would have been very tight,” he added.
“He’s just been ticking over up the straight since. To win the race he’s going to need to find the front and show all that speed.
“So we needed to keep him on the fresher side.”
Sunset Frazier (1) taking out his Melbourne Cup Heat at Sandown Park. Picture: Clint Anderson
Sunset Frazier is currently the $6 equal third favourite for The Phoenix which will serve as his first appearance since falling when in a forward position in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
Before that the son of Sunset Spitfire enjoyed a successful Sydney campaign, winning the Group 2 Black Top before finishing third to Blue Kermaro in the Million Dollar Chase.
And while confident of a forward showing, Britton is equally excited about being involved in a race of The Phoenix’s rising stature.
“Last year’s The Phoenix was the best night I’ve had at the track,” Britton said.
“It was a great night and by all reports this year will be even bigger. It’s a great race to be a part of and the concept has been a huge success for the sport.”
Original Article written by The Greyhound Recorder’s Adam Dobbin
