Ross stays alive in chase for historic third Gift title
JOSHUA Ross has avoided red-hot favourite Dhruv Rodrigues-Chico in the semifinals as he chases a historymaking third Stawell Gift crown today.
Ross, who won his first Gift in 2003 and backed up off scratch two years later, has been drawn in the second of six semi-finals, with only the winners advancing to the final later in the day.
His biggest challenge is likely to come from Lachlan Sheffield, whose 9m handicap gives him a big start over the two-time Olympic 4x100m finalist. The 38-year-old Ross is running off a 2m mark.
He is one of only three men to win two Stawell Gifts since the 120m handicap event was first contested in 1878.
Rodrigues-Chico is the short-priced favourite with the bookies at $1.40 after clocking the fastest heat time of 11.913 seconds on Saturday.
Backmarker Michael Romanin (1.5m) goes up against Jara Konteh (5.5m) in the first semi-final, while pre-event fancy Jason Bailey (10m) will be the man to beat in the fourth semi.
Training partners Sophie Fighera and Alexia Loizou — who boast remarkably similar records — are among the favourites to win the women’s Gift.
The 21-year-olds share identical 100m PBs of 12.06 set back in 2014 and finished first and second in the 400m at the Victorian championships earlier this year.
Both coached by Matt Carter, Fighera (5m) and Loizou (5.75m) were two of only three runners to break the 14second barrier in the heats.
Backmarker Maddie Coates, who is running off a handicap of -1m, was a close second in her heat in 14.345sec.
Geelong sisters Mia and Olivia Gross will race the semis after finishing second in their respective heats on Saturday.
The semi-finals and finals of the men’s and women’s Gift take place today at Central Park, with both winners pocketing $40,000.
Channel 7 will cover the racing from 11.30am.
MEN’S BETTING
$1.40: Dhruv Rodrigues-Chico $3: Conor Loughnan $3.75: Leonard King $4.50: Jason Bailey $7: Joshua Ross and Lachlan Sheffield $10: Jara Konteh. (TAB market)