Hot dog scorches

HEATHER Collins’ exciting speedster Arsonist will start a warm favourite for this week’s $36,000 Group 2 DDC Launching Pad after a scorching 29.76 heat win at Sandown Park last Thursday.
Having just her third start, following two comprehensive wins at Warrnambool, Arsonist ($2.50F) was flawless from box one, leading all the way to win by a staggering 16 lengths in the fastest time of the night.
The rising star’s chances of Group race glory improved sharply after drawing box one for the final. Recent Group One Silver Chief winner Enry Walt ($1.70 F) overcame a moderate start to win his heat in 29.91.
Enry Walt found early trouble jumping from box one in last week’s Group One Temlee Invitational Race at The Meadows and made a similar start from the same box last Thursday.
However he proved too classy for his inexperienced rivals, powering to the line 3.25 lengths clear of early leader Ercole Bale ($17.10).
Other heat winners included Scarlett Girl (30.25), Iceman Raikkonen (30.17), Wild Haley (30.23), Stepping Stone (30.11), Messi (30.04) and Arvo’s Cougar (30.01).
The $25,000-to-the-winner final will be run at Sandown Park this Thursday.