Max Looks To Profit On National Stage

Posted on August 24, 2017 | Posted by David Shortte

On Friday night at Albion Park the final of the National Sprint and Distance Championships take place with Western Australia represented by Max Profit in the Sprint and Ramifications in the Distance.

Max Profit has been a prolific winner locally in his career to date finishing on top in 22 of his 35 starts with a further 10 placings and nearly $100,000 in stakes.

Trained by Corey White who is taking part in his first ever nationals, Max was an impressive winner of the WA final leading throughout to hold out the strong finishing burst of Mendoza Monelli by half a length in the time of 29.79.

Heading into the National final the key for Max Profit to be in the finish is his customary early speed. He has led in his last three starts before going on for slick victories and for him to be a winning hope he must sit right on top of the pace. Queenslander Jury and Victorian Aston Dee Bee loom as the challengers for the lead and Max will need to burrow through hard in the early stages to hold a spot. If he can do that he is very capable of figuring in the finish, if not then his hopes may well be dashed.

From a betting perspective the Seona Thompson trained Aston Dee Bee is the $2.80 favourite and heads into the final having won his last three starts including the Victorian State Final where he sizzled around in a flying 29.17.

The Dog to beat to my eye is the Tony Brett trained Jury who is the $4 second elect. Jury has home ground advantage, the services of a gun trainer and was a blistering 29.75 winner of the Queensland State Final last week. His best jump would see him leading and that is a nice spot to be in a national final.

The runner-up in the Victorian final Bewildering is capable of rattling home and South Australian representative On Fire is flying and loves an inside draw.

My Selections for the National Sprint Final are :

3 – Jury

8 – Aston Dee Bee

4 – Max Profit

1 – On Fire

Representing Western Australia in the National Distance Final is the Chris Halse trained Ramifications.

Ramifications has had a stellar career starting 51 times for 23 wins and 15 placings with more than $177,000 in the bank.

In winning the WA Distance Final Ramifications sat just behind the leader and was able to pull clear late in the race to defeat Moment To Jive by nearly 2 lengths in 42.26.

While Ramifications victory was full of merit he is going to have to step his game up to another level to win this high quality final.

Victoria look to hold all of the Aces heading into this event with on-pacer Fanta Bale drawn perfectly in box one and strong finisher Burn One Down drawn out in seven.

The market sees Burn One down as the $2.50 favourite with Fanta Bale on the second line at $2.70 while Queenslander Outside Pass is the only other runner in single figures at $4.80.

I think the market is spot on. I can see Fanta Bale leading for a long way with Outside Pass in second spot and Burn One Down flashing at the pair late. It looms as a cracking contest but I think Burn One Down may be a touch too strong over the last little bit and I am happy to have him on top.

My selections for the National Distance Final are :

7 – Burn One Down

1 – Fanta Bale

8 – Outside Pass

3 – Ebby Ripper

Good luck to Corey White with Max Profit and Chris Halse with Ramifications – it would be great to see WA produce another National Champ.