Salsa’s victory dance tipped to continue in Young Gunnettes Final

By Josh Spasaro

Salsa comes from a high-performing litter which includes The 715 winner Soiree, Capalaba Young Guns victor Sheriff and Electrify, who produced the fastest Sandown Cup Heat time of 41.57 seconds last Thursday night.

Greg Stella’s two-year-old black bitch is also a name being spoken in high regard after saluting in all five of her career starts so far, including by seven-and-a-half lengths in the Eric Thomson Memorial Final on April 25

As a result, she is the $1.95 favourite for the Group 3 Young Gunnettes Final at Q1 Lakeside on Saturday night.

The experienced Park Ridge conditioner saw natural talent in his Zack Monelli-Shishkin chaser before she convincingly won her debut by seven-and-three-quarter lengths at Capalaba on March 29.

“Right from the start, she showed that she was above average. And she was showing early speed in her trials as well,” Stella said.

“We thought she could be something special. But until they do it on the racetrack … it’s so far so good.”

After her blistering debut, Salsa’s next four starts were convincing victories, jumping cleanly in her Young Gunnettes Heat and going on to salute by seven-and-a-quarter lengths in the 457-metre event last Saturday night.

She produced the fastest time in the two heats, crossing the line in 25.01 seconds.

Stella, 63, conceded he did not expect Salsa to be so dominant in her first five career starts.

“No. She’s always shown a lot of ability. They’ve shown they’re an outstanding litter that she’s from,” he said.

“She had a delayed start with an injury. She was probably four months behind her littermates in starting.

“But we knew she had a lot of potential in her trials. Until they do it on race day.

“That was very pleasing to see that she improved. She hadn’t raced for three weeks and she stripped a bit fitter after her two runs in the Eric Thomson, and improved her time (last Saturday night), which was very pleasing.”

Stella said this weekend’s feature worth $45,005 would be Salsa’s biggest test to date, where she will jump from box seven.

“The box draw always plays an important role,” he said.

“She’s still inexperienced with only five race starts. Obviously, she hasn’t had wide draws yet.

“No doubt she’s got the ability. It just depends on if she can get some clear air at the start.”

If Salsa gets through the Young Gunnettes Final unscathed, there could be more good times ahead for her in the Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival.

“With the Winter Carnival, there are a lot of age-group races that she qualifies for,” Stella said. 

“So after this week all going well, we’re looking at taking her to the two-turn track at Q2 and trying her around there.

“We had prepared her previously for the Vince Curry Maiden series and she succumbed to an injury three weeks before that.

“That was why she had a delayed start to her career, but the other pleasing thing is that injury is behind her and in the past now.

“She’s pulling up well and it’s good to have that behind us.”

Stella is enjoying success across his kennels at the moment, with Appeal finishing runner-up to Rupesh in the Wayne Harris Appreciation Fifth Grade Final at Capalaba last Sunday.

“Very consistent bitch who always gives 110 per cent. They ran the best of the day in that final and she had a chance,” he said

She then went on to finish second in her first start over 520 metres at Q2 Parklands on Thursday night.

And Regal Gypsy – also a two-year-old bitch with five wins from her first six starts – is showing a lot of potential.

“She’s ticking over nicely. We bred that litter. I’m just giving her a few trials at Q2 to see how she’s going to handle 520 metres,” Stella said of his chaser by Aussie Infrared and out of Regal Opal.

“But she won over 457 metres on the one-turn (Q1 Lakeside) track and showed a bit of early speed, so we’re happy with her as well.”