Bob Fletcher’s Spring Vinnie still on rise ahead of Murray Bridge Cup
Keeping it simple and putting his players first has been a big part of mentor Wayne Bennett's success in over 30 years at the top level of Australian rugby league.
And experienced trainer Bob Fletcher has taken a leaf out of the NRL supercoach's book with the way he has prepared Spring Vinnie for the $35,000 Daish Irrigation and Fodder Murray Bridge Cup (455m) on Sunday night.
The four-year-old – eight starts back from injury – is a $16 outsider with greyhound bookmakers going into the feature race.
But don't be fooled by the generous odds. Fletcher has his versatile runner well prepared to strike from box five.
“He had a tear in his back leg. Greg (Board) had a lot of pups coming through and he didn't really have a lot of time to put in with him, so he asked me if I wanted him,” Fletcher told australianracinggreyhound.com.
“And I said ‘yeah OK' and I gave him five months off. I just let him do his own thing and he came back good.
“I let him do what he wanted to do, and he gradually got quicker and quicker. I put a slow dog with him (in work).
“And when he got better and better, I put a faster dog with him. I trialed him three times and he pulled up really good.
“He's come back very well.”
Since acquiring an injured Spring Vinnie in October last year, Fletcher's record with him has been outstanding.
The sprinter/stayer has recorded six wins from eight runs since his first start in Fletcher's kennel on January 9.
He is expecting Spring Vinnie's improvement to continue in the pressure-cooker of the Murray Bridge Cup on Sunday night.
“I'm hoping the four inside dogs will go straight to the rail, whereas he (Spring Vinnie) will come straight out,” Fletcher said.
“It (the box draw) could've been better, but that's the luck of the draw. But he's a straight runner – he'll come out and run strong.
“Jack's Well (at $9.50 with TAB and running from box six for Cameron Butcher) is a problem. He always is. He came from dead last and won last week.
“He got into a bit of trouble and he just killed them.”