2013 Golden Easter Egg – Don’t Overlook The Track Specialists
The spotlight will shine on Wentworth Park this Saturday as the nation's top echelon of sprinter's converge at the Ultimo course in search of group one glory during the heats of the 2013 Golden Easter Egg. Whilst the fields contain the best greyhounds Australia has to offer, many of the circuit regulars have an excellent chance of claiming the $250,000 winner's cheque.
Prelude winner True Blue Ethics is Moorebank mentor David Smith's sole charge for the feature, with the Blue Brindle son of Surf Lorian and Dreamin' Ethics looking a live chance from box eight in heat two. The three year old sprinter has been a model of consistency winning an impressive 13 races from just 35 starts with 4 of those wins occurring at Wentworth Park, with a further 14 placing's to his name. Despite the fact that True Blue Ethics has only won once from the pink in five starts, he has run a few handy placing's from out wide, and with his ability to ping the lids, he is more than capable of finding the lead and running a cheeky race.
My Sweet Love steps up to Group Company for the first time in heat three, with the daughter of Magnificent Love certainly racing in career best form for Canyonleigh mentor Ruth Matic. A winner of twelve races from 28 starts, the exciting local has won six races at The Ultimo racetrack, with three of those wins occurring at her last four performances. Whilst this will definitely be her acid test My Sweet Love does have a good record from the outside, winning four races from box seven, with her quickest time, a slick 29.95 seconds on the 9th March this year.
Matic also has a runner in the fourth heat, with Magic Sprite youngster Magic Billions drawn favourably in the cherry. Whilst he does have to contend with ‘big guns' Peter Rocket, Cintiarna and Glen Gallon, he is a very honest pup who has never missed a place from twelve starts at the track where he has also won three races, all in handy time.
Blacksmith mogul Ron Bell will be assembling his dynamic duo for the heats with underrated littermates Kobi Jay and Mr Beau to face the starter in their respective races. By champion sire Collision out of the dazzling race bitch Daydream, a group one winner herself, the siblings both have massive motors but often bring themselves undone at box rise.
Kobi Jay faces a difficult task in heat five with the airborne Spud Regis amongst his stiff opposition, however the brindle performer should not be written off, being a winner of nine races from a mere 20 starts. The two year old powerhouse has recorded some scintillating times in the past, with a nippy 30.08 second win at Wentworth Park to his name whilst he also clocked a flying 29.47 seconds at Unibet Gardens last November.
Brother Mr Beau lines up in the last on the card for Bell, with the black chaser hoping to make it his ninth race success by taking out heat ten. The more experienced of the two, Mr Beau is a multiple city winner with a personal best time of a blistering 29.81 seconds at the track. Whilst box two will be a definite advantage, Mr Beau will have to contend with Jason Mackay's Sometimes Speedy who has won her past seven straight races- all in fantastic time- including the Group One Futurity at Unibet Gardens. The clash between the two Hunter Valley speedsters looks mouth-watering, with Sometimes Speedy's early zip sure to be tested by Mr Beau's fast closing finishes.
Track Specialist Minza Red One resumes from a lengthy spell in heat six for Catherine Field trainer Charlie Gatt, with the grand old campaigner allocated the white box for his return to the racetrack. A winner of eight races over the track and distance the red fawn dog is an excellent beginner and should be up close to the lead at the first turn. By Bombastic Shiraz out of Araluen Valley, Minza Red One is certainly bred to be fast with his Grand dam Twisted Angel a winner of the 2005 Ladies Bracelet, and thus far the three year old has been a fantastic performer for connections-scoring second in a prelude of the 2012 Melbourne Cup to the eventual winner, Got A Moment, whilst he has also landed impressive victories at Maitland, Bulli, Dapto and Gosford.
NSW Sprinter of the year Bye Bye Bucks will also look to pick up where he left off, as he lines up in heat seven for his first race start since last September. The son of Bit Chilli is Wentworth Park royalty, winning thirteen from 29 over the 520 metre trip with a flying personal best of 29.73 seconds. The black dynamo who doesn't turn three until next month has hardly put a paw wrong in his career, competing at the top level for most of his starts, winning both the Group 2 Dapto Megastar and the Group 2 Blacktop at Unibet Gardens during 2012. In all he has won a total of 21 races for trainer Kenneth Lewis with stakes earnings over $165,000, so despite the fact that he has not raced in close to six months, he certainly has local experience and plenty of talent on his side.
All eyes will definitely be on Wentworth Park this weekend and whilst many of these runners may not have the glittering resumes with the group credentials and prizemoney statistics as some of the interstate runners- they are all very talented sprinters and above all they do have experience on their side, and at a tricky track such as Wentworth Park, that can make all the difference!