Rose Blooms For Tassie Sprint Bid

FOLLOWING a top-class performance winning the Division 2 Final of the J G Nelson Cup at Launceston on Monday night, in-form sprinter Buckle Up Rose returns to the track this Thursday night to tackle a heat of the Crocmedia Tasmanian Sprint Championships.

The Gary Johnson-trained bitch qualified for the J G Nelson Cup with a 29.73 heat success and despite facing horrendous weather conditions in Monday's final, Buckle Up Rose made it four straight wins, railing underneath Gold Lenny in the straight to score by a quarter length over St. Jenson in 30.17.

Owner Robyn Johnson says her smart bitch looks to have inherited similar racing traits from her Group 1 winning champion sire Buckle Up Wes.

"Buckle Up Rose is showing a lot of Wes's ability, she has good box manners like him and can finish her races off strongly. I couldn't be prouder, not only of this bitch but the whole litter – they've all won races and are very honest chasers," she stated.

The Buckle Up Wes x Jamila Flex litter have so far won 47 races combined, a tremendous achievement.

"Buckle Up Rose has always been a very reliable performer and injury wise she is completely sound, she can do it at both ends of a race which is key for any dog and we are happy with her heading into the state sprint heats on Thursday," Robyn said.

The Johnsons continued their grand form at Devonport on Tuesday afternoon, claiming a winning treble.

Buckle Up Rose has drawn box two in the opening heat of the Crocmedia Sprint Championship and will start as the $2.70 favourite, with Apollo Blue (box 7) and Gambler's Loot (box 1) rated as her main dangers.

Dooper, for trainer Butch Deverell, is the $2.20 favourite to take out the second heat from box two.

Robyn Johnson has another smart commodity coming through the ranks from another litter sired by Buckle Up Wes, with Buckle Up Axon (x America Bale) looking to go one better than his previous run when lining up in a heat of Young Star Classic at Hobart next Monday night.

In two starts at the track over 461-metres, the blue chaser battled it out with Rip The Bandaid in the straight last Thursday night, putting his best foot forward to hit the lead right on the line to score in 26.16.

Buckle Up Axon goes up against a good field, with the likes of Geneva Lee and in-form Jughead Jones his main opposition.