Spring General and Spring Commander Go Head To Head

There was nearly a second separating last week's Richmond maiden Heat winners Spring General and Spring Commander but trainer Scott Board has warned the slower qualifier is capable of toppling his litter brother in Wednesday night's final.

Spring General won his Heat 29.94 while his kennelmate Spring Commander was slowly away and found plenty of trouble before winning the other Heat in a slow 30.91.

But their trainer Scott Board said: "In ability there is nothing between them, they are very even.

"Spring Commander trialled 29.94 for the Richmond 520m trip a week before his maiden Heat and whenever if I take them to a trial track there is never more than a tenth of a second separating them.

"Spring General though is a very smart dog and before he raced he was trialling 29.70 at Wentworth Park.

"In Wednesday's Richmond final Spring Commander has box four while Spring General has drawn eight.

"I haven't raced too much at Richmond but to me Spring General's box looks a horror draw so if he gets a clear run from his middle box Spring Commander could easily win it.''

Cabramatta Jack has drawn box six in Wednesday night's first Heat of the Ladbrokes Fifth Grade series but trainer Milo Vodogaz is unconcerned about his dog's wide draw.

Cabramatta Jack has won four of his nine races and boasts a Richmond 520m record of two wins from three appearances with a personal best time of a flying 29.53.

"He has had box six three times and has won every one of those races, including his 29.53 effort on December 27,'' Vodogaz said.

"It's not ideal because he really wants the rails but Cabramatta Jack is a sensible dog and will run straight from the boxes to the first corner.

"I'll get him to Wentworth Park eventually but I really think I am going to have a lot of fun with him when he goes over 600m later on.''

The unbeaten Not Without will be favourite to notch his sixth win in as many outings when he exits box six in Wednesday's fourth Heat of the Ladbrokes Fifth Grade.

The Jane Carruthers-trained dog has won his five races by margins totalling 27 lengths and overcame his toughest test when he led throughout before holding off the highly promising Wallacia Mist to win last Wednesday at Richmond in 29.78.

But Not Without's previous three Richmond wins were in 29.34, 29.47 and 29.60 so he should be successful again, as while he has drawn wide he won from box six last week and has an empty box on his left.

First Lady will be on trial for a start in the group two Ladbrokes Richmond Oaks when she contests Heat three of the Ladbrokes Fifth Grade.

First Lady was unplaced at her only Richmond start but is trained on the track and has displayed dazzling early pace to lead throughout in fast times of 29.75 and 29.60 over 520m at Wentworth Park at her past two races.

Heats of the Oaks will be held on February 23 with the final on March 1 and at this stage that race is First Lady's goal.

Heat two is the most open of the Ladbrokes Fifth Grade events with support expected for Zipping Griswold (box one), Spring Eureka (two), Lagoon Mandy (six) and Great Flash, perfectly boxed in eight.

Wednesday night's best bet should be Balmerino, seeking to maintain his flawless record over the Richmond 622m journey when he competes in the Steeline Riverstone Stakes, a one to four wins fifth grade.

Balmerino has won each of his two Richmond 622m appearances while none of his six rivals has been successful over that course despite having tackled the trip on a combined 22 occasions.

Best Bet Balmerino (race 4)

Best Value Spring Commander (race 2)

Race 5 - 8, 6, 1

Race 6 - 3, 1, 8

Race 7 - 6, 4

Race 8 - 8, 6, 2

$20 for 37.03%