Shirshov wins Heat 1 of the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge in 54.64 seconds
Julien Welsh with one hand on the $55,000 prize
It’s been a nervous wait for Pakenham-based trainer Julien Welsh to see if his horse Shirshov will remain on top of the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge board and deliver him a $55,000 cheque for the fastest time of the season, but after 14 nail-biting heats, those nerves will finally cease on Friday night one way or another.
Shirshov went around an outside hope at $21 and posted a sizzling time of 54.64 seconds when taking out Heat 1 of the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge on AFL Grand Final Eve – Moir Stakes Night.
“I thought he could nearly win that race, but I wasn’t even looking at the time”, Welsh told us.
“That didn’t really come into it. But then when I saw the clock I thought gee, he’s not far off the track record here.
“And then I started thinking it’s going to be a pretty hard time to beat, because the conditions were perfect that Friday night – there was no wind, the track was a Good 3, and if you were going to run time, it was then.”
Ever since, Welsh has watched each remaining heat with eager anticipation over the remainder of the Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights season, admitting he has already thought about how he’d spend the money if his horse can remain in front after this week.
“I tell you what, it’s been pretty hectic actually. You sit down on a Friday night when the heats are on and it’s like having 55 grand sitting right next to you, and it can either go in the fire or you can keep it for another week.
“EJ (Enver Jusufovic) won it the year before and he said to me, listen it’s going to be hell now for the next 13 heats until such time as the final comes.
“But it’s been good. It’s a really good concept and it keeps people interested in things.”
On Ladbrokes Cox Plate Eve, the Matthew Smith trained Frilled was able to win Heat 3 of the series under Damien Oliver, which proved to be the final Moonee Valley win of the champion rider’s career. Unfortunately however for Smith, Frilled fell agonisingly short in the race for $55,000, posting a time of 54.65 seconds and missing the time of Shirshov by 0.01 of a second.
“I really thought he’d beat it. Because what they do is 100 out, they take the clock off the TV, so you don’t know what time they ran.
“That horse really flew that night and again it was really good conditions.”
It has been more comfortable viewing for Welsh since with many horses struggling to break the famous 55 second barrier, but if the time was ever going to be beaten, it will be this week when seven of the fastest horses line up in the final, a Benchmark 84 over the 955 metres which features flying machines Unflinching, Philosopher, Direct and Scuderia.
Shirshov will also take his place in the final, and has drawn barrier 4 with key stable jockey Carleen Hefel engaged with the ride. Welsh says if the time isn’t to be beaten, or if Shirshov can better his own time, it won’t be himself alone who benefits from the grand prize.
“The money is fantastic. It’s a great incentive, and you pretty much have it spent before you get it in your hands.
“I’ll be donating some to Gary (Clarke) for sending the horse back to me, he’ll be getting a piece of it, and I’ll be handing it out to my staff as well and we’ll have a night out, so hopefully he can hang onto it for another week.”