Britton Ready To Rumble In Mandurah Cup Heats
Linda Britton is bringing back Nationals finalist Rumbling Rick in the heats of the Mandurah Cup over the 490 metre trip after a long stint on the sidelines.
Recovering from a hairline fracture in his hock, the greyhound affectionately known as Diezel spent four weeks resting after his trip back from Melbourne.
“In the final he virtually had to hurdle a dog because it broke down in front of him. It was really disappointing because we were all there to watch him”, trainer Linda Britton said.
“He ran well below what we thought he could run but he did pull up with plenty of reasons why”.
Edging on the side of caution, the Ricky Ponting-owned chaser began working very slowly to prevent any further injury to his hock.
After 48 days off, Rumbling Rick finds himself in the fourth heat of the Mandurah Cup and in impressive company all round, with 18 of his kennel mates across the heats.
“Box three isn't too bad and I don't think there is a lot of pace inside him with Bad Company and Messy Boots”.
“But you have dogs like Dyna Nalin in there and if he gets any sort of clear run he is going to be very hard to beat”.
“In an ideal world if he had a few trials as well as runs under his belt he would be hitting his peak, hopefully he hits that in the All Stars”.
Rumbling Rick is not the only greyhound from Linda's kennels to make a return to racing after an injury induced rest. Claretown Jett has recovered from a cracked hock just in time for the heats.
Claretown Jett cracked his hock back in December after winning over the 405 metre distance at Mandurah.
“We had the x-ray sent over and checked by Barry Heywood who suggested that Chris Beomo do the operation on him. When Chris saw the x-ray he wanted him over straight away, so we actually got him on a flight that night”.
“Chris basically screwed it back together”.
He stayed in Melbourne after the operation and with only a few weeks off after the surgery, Trevor Lindsay worked him up, sending him back home ready to race.
“His trials have been very impressive over east and he also trialled well here on Saturday”.
With the screw still in place, Claretown Jett will jump from box eight in the fifth heat of the Mandurah Cup.
“I am really disappointed he got the eight box, that probably puts him out of it a fair bit also because it is his first start in a field for a long time”.
He is also in very good company with Mandurah Track Star De Wade for Paul Stuart on his inside and all round champion Easy Peasy drawn in the middle of the field. Ben Abercrombie also has talented youngster Burzynski jumping from box one.
“There is plenty of class in the heats, when you look at it Enough Talking, Special Jim and Sveta Monelli just didn't get a run, they are all talented dogs themselves”.
“Uno Reltub is always a chance because of his fantastic record at the track”.
Competing in the Mandurah Cup series for the third year running, Uno Reltub is yet to rein victory in the final.
“There are some good ones in his field, Slava Monelli in the red and Perfect Poison, it's a handy field but if he can jump to the front he will be a good chance”.
“Box five does him no favours”.
“I also like Te Amo, she has trialled really well around there and she runs some really good splits”.
Te Amo will jump from box six in the second heat.
“All our dogs are drawn inside out and they need a bit of luck to make it through to the final”.
Linda also has Zelemar Fever wearing the black rug in the third heat. Zelemar Fever trailled impressively at Mandurah on Tuesday morning.
Zelemar Fever has found herself back in the Britton kennels after heading back to Victoria following a troubled appearance in the Cannington Oaks. The little black bitch is yet to win on the Mandurah track from her one start over the 490 metre distance.
She finds herself up against the inform On Coin who has impressed in many heat appearances but has failed to take home as many titles. His most recent accomplishment came in his come-from-behind victory in the WA Bred Final at Cannington.
“On Coin is probably the dog to beat, even from box eight. Zelemar Fever will be moving left so he should get plenty of room”.
“He (On Coin) reportedly trialled well down here too”.