Hooksy To Headline Peter Mosman Classic Semi Final Night
Victorian star chaser Hooksy will be the centre of attention this Saturday night at Wentworth Park, with three star-studded heats of the Group One Peter Mosman Classic to be conducted.
The son of Hondo Black and Uno Witch was all the rage in his heat last week, starting at skinny odds of $1.60. He didn't disappoint an array of punters, clocking best of the night figures of 29.47. The Victorian first caught the eye of enthusiasts back in March. Tanya Auld and husband Jim made the testing trip up to the Glebe circuit from their base in Victoria and claimed their first Group win with Hooksy, the $25,000 Group Three New Sensation.
Hooksy will be a short-priced favourite when he steps out in semi-final one from box three. He has brilliant acceleration once he balances up and should secure a spot in next week's $75,000 to the winner final. My Awesome Opal from box six is the only other heat winner in this semi-final after upsetting a hot field last week at huge odds, recording a time of 30.08 for trainer Marie Burton. Stilton Blue has been very consistent of late and finished a gallant second last week behind Tommy Brislane in a fast 29.71 by three and a half-lengths.
Semi-final two contains Jason Mackay's talented chaser Zipping Delta, who put in her best performance at the track last week, clocking a sizzling 29.49 over the 520m journey. The daughter of Bekim Bale and Scarlett Spy began beautifully from the inside alley to record her third consecutive win and will be hard to hold out again from a favourable box three.
Another in-form chaser Push It upset hot favourite Keybow in her heat last week, securing her fourth consecutive victory at Wentworth Park when clocking a smart 29.81 from box eight. The Dean Swain trained chaser pinged from the outside box and was never headed in an impressive three-length win. Aurora Girl put in a brave performance last week from box two, finishing three and a half lengths behind Cawbourne Whip in a fast 29.70. Marie Burton's chaser will need to begin well from the middle draw this week, but has speed to burn and should challenge this field from box-rise.
The final semi contains two highly talented greyhounds looking to keep their winning streaks alive, with Tommy Brislane and Cawbourne Whip having won their past four straight. Steve White's Tommy Brislane now has six wins from seven starts and is starting to emerge as one of the hottest young prospects in the state. He blew his rivals away last week in a hot run of 29.71 after stepping well from box three. The son of Premier Fantasy and Mary Virginia shot away to claim victory by three and a half lengths and is a model of consistency on the race track.
Cawbourne Whip has also stamped her authority as one of the brightest starts on the NSW racing circuit, recording another flying time of 29.50 in her heat win last week. The Jodie Lord trained greyhound will have to overcome a difficult box five draw, however she has brilliant early acceleration and can outstep her rivals to the first turn.
Group One winner Keybow failed to fire in last week's heats, finishing second to Push It, recording a time of 29.99. After missing the start, the Darren McDonald speedster left his run too late, reducing the winning margin to just three lengths. Coming up with box two on Saturday night is a huge positive for this greyhound; however the son of Take The Kitty will need to improve at box-rise with some speedy greyhounds engaged on his outside that will cross hard in the early stages.
Semi final one kicks off at 9.12pm, with the winner and second placegetter guaranteed a spot in next week's final. The two fastest third placings will make up the remainder of the field.