Alota Amy looking for career highlight in 2017 Gold Coast Cup

Alota Amy wins her heat of the . PIC: Box 1 Photography.

PARK Ridge trainer Ken Mackenroth is optimistic his kennel star Alota Amy (Cosmic Rumble x Maywyn Or Ebay Nov '13) can give him a career highlight when she lines up in next Thursday's 3 Cup (520m) at Albion Park.

The white and fawn greyhound began fairly off box two in her heat, settling in second position behind top elect and recent winner (Cosmic Rumble x Dulcinea Jun '15) and was too strong in the run to the line, scoring by a head in a best of night 29.73.

Despite being sent to the boxes as an $8 chance, Mackenroth said he was confident his consistent bitch could upset the favourite.

“I gave her a big chance the way she was drawn – I thought if she could find the fence down the back straight she'd be hard to beat,” Mackenroth told Australian Racing Greyhound.

“She actually tried to go underneath Joyce Rumble down the back and she got checked out of it which probably cost her three lengths but she will came home too well – it was a big run.”

Alota Amy, which turns four in less than two months' time, has now won her past three starts and 17 from 52 overall with 11 minor placings.

Mackenroth said the 28-kilogram racer has been plagued with injury throughout her career, but it now racing better than ever heading into next week's $25,000 to the winner final.

“She has always shown she could do something special but she has had a few setbacks. She dropped her back muscle in the Ipswich Cup heats last year and she's had some nasty injuries which have kept her off the track.

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“But she is on track now and she is fully sound. This is probably the best preparation she has had going into a feature race.

“She seems to be hitting her peak which doesn't surprise me – the whole breed seems to race at their best between 3.5-4 years' old so I am hopeful that she can get a bit of luck and get the job done in the final.”

Alota Amy has drawn beautifully for the final, coming up with the coveted rails alley. However, it wont be an easy assignment, facing a field including three-time group winner Thirty Talks (Where's Pedro x Unfinished Jun '14) and multiple group finalists Cosmic (Cosmic Rumble x Dark And Stormy Dec '14), Not Like Tommy (Spring Gun x Mini Pod Mar '13), Opal Nera ( x Black Sambuca May '15) and Joyce Rumble.

A win would be a career highlight for Alota Amy and Mackenroth, who trains her for his sister and brother in law Cheryl and Darcey Bloomfield from the property they share.

“It would mean a lot to win the race – my sister and brother in law own her and we all put in and race the dogs as a family,” he said.

“It's always special to race dogs together and I was very happy when we got the one. She has been coming out a bit better lately so hopefully she can get herself into a nice spot early – if she can find the fence she will be finishing strongly.”

The Gold Coast Cup will be run at Albion Park next Thursday night with $25,000 going to winning .

2017 Group 3 Gold Coast Cup box draw

1 – Alota Amy
2 – Comic Bonus
3 – Gunnadoo Rev
4 – Joyce Rumble
5 – Not Like Tommy
6 – Snug
7 – Thirty Talks
8 – Opal Nera
Reserves
9 –
10 – Slick