Keep's Perfect Recipe For Thunderbolt Success

AN ideal box one draw, and brilliant box speed, that's the recipe for a spot in The Thunderbolt Final (350m) as the semis are run on Sunday night.

What Hope (Aussie Infrared-Inspired Hope) is the dog in question and new trainer Steve Keep is confident the bitch can give him his first finalist in Grafton's glamour test of speed.

What Hope, $17 in her semi-final on Sunday, was impressive in winning her qualifier of The Thunderbolt at Grafton last Sunday despite being a $31 chance.

She was resuming from a long injury-enforced break and having only her second start for the Keep kennel at Warragai Creek.

"She hurt herself at Casino way back in March at her first start for me," Keep said.

FIELDS AND FORM GRAFTON SUNDAY

"She had trialled 23.15 at her first look at Casino. In the race she was about to cross to the front off the eight but was dragged down from behind."

What Hope, raced by John Clout and from Magistrate's dam Inspired Hope, was about to get back on the track when she hurt a hip.

"That was three weeks ago," Keep said.

"The Thunderbolt series was always her target but when she hurt herself three weeks before the heats I was worried.

"But we got her right and she got to have only one slip into her before last week's heat. I gave her a great chance in the heat even at the big odds."

Of Sunday's semi-final, Keep says the rails draw is perfect and the bitch's box manners are her best attribute.

"And that's what wins races,” he said. "She's missed all the superstars, but her semi is still tough.

"Her run to win the heat was great. I thought she would get tired in the last 50m but she held on well.

"She went 20.07 but I think she will get down to 19.90 and that can win a semi."

What Hope has still drawn a tough semi-final field, including Harmony Fire, Stylish Romeo and Crimson Dynamo, all heat winners from around NSW.

"This bitch has run a first section of 3.98 in a Grafton trial for me. She went 4.03 in her heat, but off the rails she can go quicker."