Samona Takes Aim At Winged Runner Trophy

SAMONA is back from a successful Victorian campaign and takes on a slick field of females in the Listed Winged Runner Trophy (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night.

The daughter of Ritza Lenny and It's A Synch was a fabulous third to superstar Wow's She Fast in the Group 3 Launching Pad (515m) at Sandown Park in mid April when being prepared by Brendon Pursell.

She is back at home in the Park Ridge kennels of youthful Josh Priest.

“We could not have been happier with her campaign in Victoria,” said Josh of the bitch who is raced by The Longbow Syndicate headed by greyhound devotee Murray Gardner.

“She earned $20,000 just for running third in the Launching Pad.”

Samona has raced 31 times for six wins and 13 placings earning $46,000.

“Brendon wanted her to stay in Victoria,” said Josh. “But, we were always going to bring her home.”

The bitch failed at Sandown behind classy Hill Top Jack at her run following the Launching Pad final.

“Never out of trouble,” said Josh of the run.

Samona arrived back at Park Ridge last week.

2022 (Group 3) Launching Pad Final. 515m
1st – Box 7 Wow She's Fast – Jacqueline Greenough
2nd – Box 2 Plantiff – Jason Thompson
3rd – Box 6 Samona – Brendan Pursell (Team Priest)
28.927. 6 3/4 x 1/2 pic.twitter.com/duzQkscotu

— John Brasch (@Bunny_Brasch) April 14, 2022

“We are happy with the six in the Winged Runner,” said Josh. “We have a vacant box on her inside and that will help her.

“Her box manners do not help her. She's got good field sense, but when she is always back in a field, she is open to finding trouble.”

The looming presence of star galloper Extra Malt in the Winged Runner cannot be downplayed.

“She's obviously the one to beat,” said Josh.

Extra Malt comes into the race off a rejuvenation of five straight wins at Ipswich including a scorching 30.11.

She had been mixing her form prior to that, but to her credit three of those races were in Group 1, 2 and 3 events.

“We are hoping we can get in behind Extra Malt early and then hopefully run her down,” said Josh. “It is a tough race.”

Plans are for Samona to step up in distance in the not too distant future.

“We will see how she goes on Thursday night and then make up our minds what her future holds,” said Josh. “There are a few nice 600 metre races coming up.

“It's tough competition on Thursday night though.”

Extra Malt goes into the race off 28 wins and was second in the Winged Runner last year.