Commands Respect Sets Grafton Cup Pace

COMMANDS Respect does just that in next Sunday's Grafton Cup final (450m) after running the fastest of the three heats of the Cup.

Commands Respect (Aston Dee Bee-Sheez My Chicki) flashed past early Cup favourite Starline Express in the home straight to win Sunday night's Cup heat in 25.16 by four and a quarter lengths.

It was his 23rd victory in 53 starts and took his stakes to $79,000.

John and Glenda Dart prepare the dog for Carolyn Knox.

“Carolyn is wrapped,” said John today.

There were some upsets, but here are all three Village Green Hotel Grafton Cup Heats back-to-back!

? Who do you like in the final next week?

Grafton Results: https://t.co/vut8Wx5FFH#thedogs #graftoncup @tabcomau @ladbrokescomau @sportsbetcomau pic.twitter.com/67DC0gS1pW

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) April 30, 2023

“She lives down around Kempsey and has been sending us a few dogs of late.

“This dog was one of the first.”

Dart is happy with the box three draw for next weekend's final.

“He's hit a purple patch and I fully expected him to go as good as he did last night,” he said.

“He raced at Albion Park on Wednesday and won but pulled up so, so well.

“In fact, he could not stand still in the four days since that run.

“I fully expected him to be hard to beat even with Starline Express in the race.”

Commands Respect won the Pop Northfield Maiden at Casino as a pup and was a finalist last year in the G3 Casino Cup.

Here's the all-important box draw for the Village Green Hotel Grafton Cup Final!

Who's your pick?#thedogs @ladbrokescomau @tabcomau @sportsbetcomau @TopSport_com_au @NedsAus @BlueBetAu @PalmerbetAU pic.twitter.com/zJtxuy8wBJ

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) April 30, 2023

Sunday night's heat win was Commands Respect's seventh in his past eight starts.

Dart says Selena and Mick Zammit's Jay Is Jay will be the one to beat in the Cup final.

“He's a class dog and even though he had trialled on the Grafton track, that was ages ago,” said John.

“He is the big improver for the final.”

Other heats of the Cup went to Impress Dressel in 25.19 for Dave Irwin over Jay Is Jay, while Susan Smith won with Whiskey Cobbler in 25.32 beating recent Taree Cup winner Reel ‘Em Bluey.

Grafton Cup Final (450m) in box draw order: 1 Rushforth Ally, 2 Whiskey Cobbler, 3 Commands Respect, 4 Reel ‘Em Bluey, 5 Sal's Blue Boy, 6 Impress Dressel, 7 Jay Is Jay, 8 Starline Express. Res: 9 All Lies Ahead, 10 Cash Master.