Lawrance's Power In Numbers For Auction Final

WITH eight pups engaged from the same litter, Serena Lawrance looked like she would feature heavily in the Ipswich Auction Sprint Series (431m).

And the team has failed to disappoint with Lawrence qualifying three runners for this Saturday night's $14,000 finale courtesy of We Get It (1), Ringbark Jen (4) and Ringbark Clancy (7).

"I haven't analysed the race too closely … if you do it tends to not happen the way you think but with box one We Get It looks the most likely of my runners," Lawrance said.

"Made In America for Greg Stella stands out as the likely leader. We've seen him put gaps in them out of the boxes winning his heat and semi the past two weeks.

"In terms of my three they're all going to be running on as long as they get the chance to balance up around that first corner. All three have the run home potential to win the race."

Lawrance runners are regulars at the 431 metre sprint trip at Ipswich, with the Prenzlau based trainer praising the re-introduction of the Auction Sprint Series into the calendar.

"This series has been a godsend for us," Lawrance explained.

"If it wasn't on they'd be going through their grades but instead they're racing for a $14,000 winner's cheque after only a few starts.

"We Get It has been the standout having won six of his twelve races but I'm just as pleased with Ringbark Jen and Ringbark Clancy which have only won a maiden yet find themselves in the final."

The corner sprint start at Ipswich is synonymous with box speed, many winners pinching the race on the first corner. But as Lawrance explains, her three finalists go about it a different way. 

"The whole litter is very similar; none of them have that genuine early pace, they take a stride or two to get going," Lawrance added.

For Lawrance – who has been in the training game for a long time –  admits it's a remarkable result to get this entire litter to the track for one series.

"To get eight to the track from the Head Bound/Cardwell litter is a big result; you don't often see that many break in well and get to the track by two-years-old," she said.

"I think a lot of their ability comes from the mother Cardwell. She didn't have a long racing career, but it was a very successful one and she's passed a bit of that talent through to her pups."

Lawrance was quick to heap praise on three loyal kennel owners, each playing their role in getting the litter to where they are today.

"It's a big deal for my owners Darryl McCoy who bred the litter, Andrew Woodford who has had dogs with us for years, and Robert Fairbairn who owns Head Bairn and also the sire of the litter Head Bound," Lawrance said.

"I'd call them more friends than owners; Andrew (Woodford) had Arden Street with us who had a fantastic career, he's always very hands on, coming up to help out and I know Darryl (McCoy) has got a lot of family coming Saturday, hopefully it's a good night for us all."

Lawrance has a tried and tested policy of not rushing her pups – a practice she's stuck solid with throughout her training career.

"I've taken my time with the whole litter because ideally they all have long hard careers in front of them and I've had a lot of my dogs winning races at well over four," she said.

"I've never rushed any of my pups, they stay in the yard until they are fourteen to fifteen months old before they come out and get broken in.

"They don't stop growing until about 56 weeks and you don't want to dent their confidence before they're fully furnished. That gives them the best chance of a long career."