Mr America Throws Down Origin Gauntlet

DARREN Sultana expects straight track wizard Mr America to keep improving to give himself a huge chance of winning the Straight of Origin final (366m) at Capalaba on Sunday.

Sultana headed to Capalaba for the NSW heat of the Origin and ran the quinella with Mr America and Slingshot Hooks, the winner scoring as the $1.33 favourite by three lengths when off the rails.

FIELDS AND FORM THE MEADOWS SATURDAY NIGHT

Straight Of Origin final (in box draw): 1 Milligan, 2 Country Double, 3 Mr America, 4 Black Comanche, 5 Cash View, 6 Slingshot Hooks, 7 Ninetymile King, 8 Impact. Res: 9 Bogie Fury, 10 Pinkowski.

Mr America (SE Tali Sundance-Motel Girl) has become a straight track specialist winning 14 of his past 16 starts, 13 of those in 15 starts at Richmond.

FIELDS AND FORM CAPALABA SUNDAY

“He improved from the 20.06 he trialled at his first look at Capalaba and the 19.76 was a good run,” said Darren.

“He came out running off the rails and hopefully he can draw near the fence in the final.

“But, in the trial he did follow the drag lure up the centre.”

Mr America has already been a finalist in the rich The Arrow at Healesville and been a finalist in the Group 2 Cup up that straight before joining Sultana's kennel.

“He's got a big motor this dog and all business when he gets onto the track,” he said.

Of Slingshot Hooks, Sultana was very happy with his run.

“He's been hit and miss at the jump on the circle and I was really happy with the way he came out at Capalaba,” he said. “He'll will be a good companion again and a chance in the final as well.”

The first four from the NSW heat, Mr America, Slingshot Hooks, Cash View and Country Double will go into next week's $15,000 finale.

Queensland's three heats went to Milligan in 19.67 for Tony Brett, Ninetymile King in 19.85 for Bianca Whitford and Black Comanche in 19.61 for Greg Stella.

Impact, second to Black Comanche, will make up the final field with the reserves being Bogie Fury and Pinkowski.