Sprinters Converge On Border Park Greyhounds
The place to be this weekend is trackside at Border Park for six heats of the $20,000 to the winner Tweed Heads Galaxy 420m.
With the best 48 greyhounds nominated the six heat winners and two fastest seconds will qualify and race again in Mondays afternoons rich final. It is a wonderful weekend of racing and once again the club has attracted some outstanding greyhounds from across Australia to do battle.
Each heat has a number of leading chances, with spectators and punters doing well to pick any winners. The racing kicks off Saturday at 1.15pm local time.
Tweed Heads Galaxy Heat One
Left Field (Placard – Ominous Spirit) for owner trainer Frank Anderson headlines heat one after coming up with the ideal cherry box. The super talented grey has had no luck in his recent starts with his last two races resulting in two falls at Gosford. The small blue dog has only raced twice since his BON win at Wentworth Park and that was in December. With 11 wins and 7 placings from just the 24 career starts he has enormous ability having won in good time at Richmond, Gosford and the Gardens. From an inside draw he is near unbeatable and so long as the two recent falls haven't knocked his confidence, he will be hard to beat.
Being almost five years old one would be mistaken for thinking that a greys form would start to slip away. Not so for Bralyn County the August 2008 son of Hallucinate – Bralyn Maisie who draws box three. The Dave Irwin trained chaser is continuing the form that has made him a punters favourite for many years, with his 50 starts resulting in 25 wins and 8 placings. His recent form is outstanding with 3 wins and a second from his last four starts, including wins at Grafton and here at Border Park. With a best time of 23.56 at the track he will hope to utilise his brilliant box speed to position himself in a winning position.
Country feature events are often dominated by local chasers and leading trainer Glenda Dart will hope that is the case for Duel Em Up (Dual Enforcer – I'm Not Blue). After drawing the striped box, the 33 kilogram red fawn chaser will look to use his track sense and ability to his advantage at the tight Border Park circuit. The winner of 4 from 9 here and 13 overall, he has great sprinting ability and will be well fancied for the popular local Dart.
Tweed Heads Galaxy Heat Two
Australia's most successful trainer and no stranger to fast dogs and big race monopoly, Graeme Bate headlines heat two with his wonderful sprinter Arizona Dozer (Bit Chilli – Indiana Lee). The March 2010 chaser previewed the track last week winning a best 8 in a near BOD 23.45. Box 5 won't worry the noted beginner and with his overall record of 65 starts for 39 wins and 13 placings, he will be the favourite to progress to the final and more group success.
Logan Village trainer Jamie McHugh returns to the Border Park circuit with the speedy Berella Kathryn having drawn box 1. The August 2010 daughter of Meticulous – Tawny Shiraz was in career best form prior to her last start injury at Albion Park. The striking 29 kilo bitch has an outstanding record overall win 8 wins from only 18 starts and will be well liked for the popular McHugh who has great ability in big races to get the best out of his chasers. A previous finalist in 2004, McHugh will look to qualify another runner from his small team.
Underrated sprinter Gee Six (Kiowa Sweet Trey – Slick Candy) for trainer Jimmy Heddles looks sure to be well supported for the popular trainer. The omen draw could be a sign of ‘we should have backed that' after he drew the green rug. The July 2010 chaser has outstanding short track ability as evidenced by his overall record of 52 starts for 19 wins and 15 placings, with super quick wins at Capalaba, Ipswich and Albion Park. With his ability to run quick times from any box a win here wouldn't surprise, especially after his preview win here two weeks ago in a very fast 23.42.
Tweed Heads Galaxy Heat Three
The visitors look to dominate heat three with potential superstar Tomac Bale leading the way from box 3. The son of Dyna Lachlan out of super producing dam Princess Bale, the April 2011 red fawn chaser has been a revelation in his short career winning 6 of his 8 career starts for Victorian trainer Mark Delbridge. With 29.21 and 29.23 Sandown wins he has enamours ability with speed and strength and barring any bad luck he should be too good for these in this heat.
Fellow Victorian Fully Advanced will try to spoil the party of the favourite after drawing the ideal cherry box. The February 2010 son of Collision – Okay Supreme, has leading mentor Graeme Bate hoping that this start can be win 20 for the talented sprinter. The well travelled grey has recorded fast wins at a number of tracks including Warragul, Geelong, Sandown, Wentworth Park and Launceston. A noted big race performer and with big race experience he will be well supported to topple the favourite Tomac Bale.
Returning NSW grey Take The Weight (Elite State – Kingsbrae Di) looks to be the another danger to the favourite after returning home from the Victorian kennels of Kel Greenough to Charles Northfield. The black 32 kilo chaser has two seconds here from his last two runs and looks like he has been set for this type of event after drawing box seven. He has great ability having won at Ballarat, Warragul, Geelong and Casino in his limited career, with his overall record of 7 wins and 6 placings from 17 starts. A greyhound with great ability he will hope for clear room early.
Tweed Heads Galaxy Heat Four
Graeme Bate will try to qualify another finalist in heat four with Allen Benji looking the grey to beat. Drawing box one, the June 2010 son of Buttsie Bale – Swiss Bale was ultra impressive last week winning a best eight here in BOD 23.41 by three lengths. With a 50% winning strike rate and an overall record of 60 starts for 30 wins and 18 placings he has been another wonderful performer for the Bate / Wheeler combination. He has noted box speed and mid race pace and barring bad luck he should account for these and give Bate another Galaxy finalist.
Defending Galaxy champ Chasing Glory will look to do just that in heat four after coming up with the yellow rug. A wonderful greyhound, the February 2010 black grey is a son of El Galo – Tommie's Placard. With over $48,000 in the prizemoney kitty he has been a wonderful dog winning 16 and placing in a further 14 of his 42 career starts. He hasn't been at the Border Park circuit since last years heat and final victory but you can't knock a champ and he will be hoping to add his name to back to back winners of the featured event for trainer Noelene Walsh. With wins all over NSW tracks he will be there should the favourite make any mistakes.
Looking to ruin the Bate show leading trainer Glenda Dart has the well schooled Pierino engaged in box three. With his most recent form at the track and distance consisting of 3 starts for 3 wins, the son of Where's Pedro – Magic Capers has an obvious liking for the tight Border Park circuit. With a fast win at Albion Park to his credit, the sprinter has obvious ability as indicted by his overall record of 17 starts for 6 wins and 6 placings.
Tweed Heads Galaxy Heat Five
Heat five box five looks to be the way on paper with Ando's Magic looking to be the grey to beat in this field. The son of Magic Sprite – Miss Blondie is in outstanding form for owner trainer Jane Carruthers with recent fast wins at Richmond, Nowra and Gosford to his credit. From only 18 career starts he has 10 wins and 6 placings and looks another successful offspring of Magic Sprite who is doing wonders at stud with fast winners everywhere.
Albion Park speedster Blackjack Gent (Made To Size – Lilly Grace) looks well placed to challenge the favourite after coming up with the striped box. The Deb Arnold trained and Anthony Jeffress owned chaser has been in outstanding form of late with 2 wins and 3 seconds from his last 5 starts. The 31 kilo black dog is a flying machine as evidenced by his sub 23 second Albion Park wins. With an overall record of 9 wins and 15 placings from 32 starts, a final berth would be just reward for the efforts of Jeffress and his contribution to the greyhound racing industry.
Box six runner and local attraction Naughty As looks another chance in heat five. The August 2009 daughter of Big Daddy Cool – Go Wild Lilly has been an honest performer in each of her 107 starts, resulting in 28 wins, 18 seconds and 17 thirds for Condong owner trainer Lee Wylie. With a bed at the track the 25 kilo blue bitch has won 21 races over the track and distance with a best time of 23.53 set at the carnival this time last year.
Tweed Heads Galaxy Heat Six
Gilberton mentor Claude Dacey looks a strong chance of progressing to next weeks final with his super short track performer Dayseas Jet after coming up with the white rug. The August 2010 son of Cosmic Rumble – Classy Kate has outstanding form at Casino, Ipswich, and Albion Park over sprints where he has won lots or races in best of meeting performances. With his overall record of 44 starts for 18 wins and 16 placings, connections will be hoping that he can show his customary box speed to race right away with this heat.
Red box runner Woods looks most likely to challenge after back to back wins at the Gardens over the 400m trip. The March 2011 son of Goodsey – Ominous Spirit has faced the starter on 14 occasions for 7 wins and 5 placings. With fast wins at Wentworth Park, Richmond and Gardens to his credit he looks an improving type with stacks of ability. He is boxed to win for trainer Frank Anderson.
A travelling Victorian is always a chance and box five runner Taper Jean Girl looks another strong contender for the final heat. By El Galo – Blu Pie Girl, the 28 kilo blue bitch has super short track form. A fast 22.63 winner over the tough Warragul 400m shows just how fast she is. With 14 wins and 4 placings from just 25 career starts, trainer Garry George will be hoping she can reproduce her Victorian form here. Box five doesn't appear to worry her having had two starts from the yellow for two wins.
Each of the heats is filled with greyhounds of ability with all runners a realistic chance of qualifying for the Monday final and taking out the rich first prize. The ability to back up within two days is critical and for the greyhound that does so this weekend, they will join the honour board of past winners including; Chasing Glory (2012), Harvey Bale (2004) back to back winner Magic Mint (99/2000) and Sobbing Sal (1997). Monday also features the final of Harry Pledger Cup over 520m worth $10,000 to the winner on its 10 card program.