Axon's Thrilling Breeders Classic Triumph

PROMSING sprinter Buckle Up Axon produced the biggest run of his early career to capture the Custom Resources And Recruitment Tasmanian Breeders Classic Final (452m) at Devonport on Tuesday afternoon.

 Giving relative newcomer sire Buckle Up Wes his first Breeders Classic victory, Buckle Up Axon remained undefeated throughout the series, winning both his heat and semi-final, which saw the blue sprinter start a $2.25 favourite from box eight in the final.

Buckle Up Axon stepped well from box eight to settle second behind front runner Hello Rhonda who exploded at the jump, the Gary Johnson-trained chaser railing through strongly to take the lead on the home turn.

The son of Buckle Up Wes and America Bale surged clear in the straight to score by two lengths running out a sizzling 25.54 performance, with Hello Rhonda holding on well clear of Branwell Lee who powered home late to fill the trifecta back in third.

Buckle Up Axon has won six races from 12 starts with $14,045 in prizemoney.

"We're extremely chuffed with Buckle Up Axon," beamed owner Robyn Johnson.

"It's great to finally win a Breeders Classic. Having bred, reared and educated our own race dogs gives both Gary and I a real buzz to see them make the track. With Axon it's only early into his career but the run in the final showed he has the qualities of a smart chaser."

Trained at Leith by Gary Johnson, the classic winner is bred by Gary's wife Robyn Johnson who also bred their two-time group 1 winning champion, who was trained throughout his career by Hall of Fame trainer Ted Medhurst.

Despite showing promise since day one, Johnson says her powerhouse pup is beginning to really mature in recent months, since his official debut at Devonport in June running a red-hot 25.69.

"Buckle Up Wes (sire) was a sensational chaser and some of his pups, like Buckle Up Axon, have started to show similar racing traits, this pup has it at both ends, running down Hello Rhonda is a good example," she told.

"Axon got a dream run across from out wide when Twisted Sister (seven) decided to go hard left on the rest of the field. I thought Hello Rhonda was going to be hard to run down but our bloke lobbed second, showed smarts to go inside her which I really like about his run."

Buckle Up Wes produced three finalists in the 35^th Devonport Breeders Classic with Twisted Sister and Buckle Up Izy producing great efforts throughout the series.

The son of Collision and Everlong Bale has produced 66 winners overall from just limited runners.

From 22 runners this year, Buckle Up Wes has progeny statistics of 59 wins, 56 seconds and 57 thirds thus far for 2018 giving him a winning strike rate of 15.7%.

Robyn has reported that Buckle Up Axon will most likely remain at Devonport next Tuesday to contest the heats of the time-honoured George and Eileen Johnston Puppy Championship.