Metselaar Sees Red In Soldiers Saddle Final

TRAINER Rod Metselaar will be chasing a second Soldiers Saddle title when Red Hot Mouse starts favourite for the $10,000-to-the-winner decider at Bathurst on Monday.

Back in 2015, Metselaar landed the Bathurst RSL sponsored central west event with his former talented sprinter Tap Out Axe.

FIELDS AND FORM BATHURST MONDAY

"It was a three week series back then and Tap Out Axe drew box one in the heat, semi and final," recalled Metselaar.

"And now Red Hot Mouse has drawn the red for both the heat and Monday's final. I can't complain about box draws at Bathurst can I?"

Red Hot Mouse – a regally bred daughter of Fernando Bale and Mrs. Mouse – roared into Monday's Soldiers Saddle final with an all-the-way 30.07 heat victory last week.

The performance was the first under the care of Metselaar after regular trainer Hank Vanderburg was recently handed a 12-month suspension dating back to a positive swab in 2018.

"I'm not exactly sure of the ins and outs behind her ownership but I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to train her," Metselaar said.

"Hank's young bloke Peter now owns her and I was grateful to get the call asking to train her. I think Hank and I train very similar which should mean not a lot changes with the bitch."

Winner at five of her first six starts in blinding times, Metselaar has identified next month's National Futurity as a likely option for Red Hot Mouse if she continues on this upward trajectory.

"That's the plan but with greyhounds it's a day at a time let alone a week at a time," Metselaar said.

"Without sounding cocky I'm confident she'll run a really good race on Monday. She actually trialled at Bathurst quicker than what she ran in her heat but maybe the trial flattened her a bit.

"I can't fault her going into Monday and if she begins like she usually does and uses the inside draw she'll go close.

"Being drawn underneath the pace – especially at Bathurst with the short run to the first corner – is a big plus for her."

Setting the time standard for Monday's final is the Errol Hughes trained Hammer Foot, winner of her heat in a slippery 30.03.

47 start veteran Tradie's Mate landed his heat in 30.35 while Nangar Opal made it three wins from four starts to begin her career with a stylish all-the-way 30.10 heat success.

"There's some nice dogs in the final … Nangar Opal looks the hardest to beat the way she's going," Metselaar said.

"It'd be great to win the race again and I couldn't be happier where she's at.

"She's a very exciting bitch and I'm stoked to get the opportunity to train her. I'm sure a lot of higher profile trainers would have jumped at the chance to take her.

"Hopefully I can return the faith and get the results. Starting with Monday."