Stance Up The Straight The One To Beat

Trainer Robbie Tyler considers his finalists Wicked Cyclone and Ritza Daniel ideally drawn in Saturday's NSW Straight Track Championship at Richmond but remains doubtful they can beat fastest heat winner Sacred Stance.

A former Tasmanian, now trained here by Michelle Sultana, Sacred Stance was having his first race at Richmond when he won his heat from box eight in fastest time, a blistering 17.39.

Wicked Cyclone had box four when landing his heat in 17.59 with the other heat taken out by the Frank Hurst-trained Good Odds Buzz, who came from box seven and clocked 17.57.

Ritza Daniel was beaten a length when runner-up to Good Odds Buzz but had drawn box one, and Tyler was hoping for box eight in the final.

"Ritza Daniel is desperate for box eight and while Wicked Cyclone will drift over to the middle of the track, he is pretty well suited in box seven too,'' Tyler said.

"Although Wicked Cyclone has the more impressive race form, 'two out' Ritza Daniel would beat him.

"My pair may not be the quickest in Saturday's final but they are boxed to get all the breaks.

"However unless Sacred Stance finds trouble I don't think either of my dogs can beat him.

"Sacred Stance was like a machine when he won his heat.''

Sacred Stance toppled Mr America, widely regarded as the fastest straight tracker in NSW, in that race.

"Sacred Stance should be okay from box two because he will run straight when he leaves the boxes,'' trainer Michelle Sultana said.

"He had a trial at Richmond the week before the heats but the trial ticket read that he clocked 16.98, which was impossible.

"It was obvious they had clocked the lure so I added four tenths to the ticketed time which still made him go pretty fast.''

Mr America and Good Odds Buzz, who have drawn boxes five and four respectively in the final, are renowned "crashers" - dogs which will veer left when they hit the ground.

Mr America's trainer Darren Sultana will also be represented by Extra Specialism, who could cause an upset as he is well positioned in box one.

Extra Specialism had box six when he chased home Wicked Cyclone in his heat but possesses dazzling early pace and could cause an upset by "pinching'' the 324m sprint from his rails draw.

First and second in Saturday's $10,000 to the winner race at Richmond will qualify for the $25,000 for first National Straight Track Championship over 324m at Richmond on August 27.