Cobblepot the one to beat after seven Ipswich Sprint heats
Cobblepot served up a blistering run to be the fastest qualifier from seven heats of the 2023 Ipswich Sprint on Saturday night.
Trained by Stephen Rolph, Cobblepot was sent to the boxes in the 431m heat as the +100 race favourite with greyhound betting sites.
Jumping from box three, Cobblepot speared out to the front and led all the way to beat Jackson's Miss (+2000) by 5.0 lengths in the speedy 24.91, making him the only heat winner to run sub-25.
2023 Ipswich Sprint Heat 3 – Cobblepot (24.91) T: Stephen Rolph
His last start, on October 10, had Cobblepot finishing fourth over the 288m trip at Ipswich, off the back of a three-month break from racing.
Trainer Stephen Rolph told Australian Racing Greyhound that he was happy with the run given the break between races.
“Very happy with the run,” he said.
“He should take good improvement from tonight.
“He had an issue with the tendon at the bottom of his back muscle, then he injured his calf muscle.
“He wasn't happy being kept quiet for that amount of time.”
From a 2020 litter of ten by Zambora Brockie out of Shilo, the most successful littermate is Isurava who has banked $101,420 with 24 wins and 26 placings from 75 career starts.
The heat win by Cobblepot notched up the 100th winner out of Shilo, with the dam's owner and former trainer Brent Kline elated with the result.
“We absolutely love seeing it,” Kline said.
“Being only a small hobby trainer, I don't have the huge properties like other trainers, so we are really limited to the numbers we keep.
“This being the case, we sell most of our pups to other trainers.
“These trainers are constantly asking to buy more pups due to them being financially set up.
“This repeat business is working for both parties, so we can't be more happier when they continue to win races.”
Cobblepot has 18 wins and 18 placings from 49 career starts and has accumulated $67,585 in prize money for trainer-owner Stephen Rolph.
He will be joined in the $12,025 final to be run on Thursday night by the other heat winner's in Wildash Merv (25.05), Van Helsing (25.19), Keep You Posted (25.24), Turbo Blaster (25.11), White Claw (25.29) and Fernando Grand (25.27).
2023 Ipswich Sprint Heat 1 – Wildash Merv (25.05) T: Rick Hassall
2023 Ipswich Sprint Heat 2 – Van Helsing (25.19) T: Mark Saal
2023 Ipswich Sprint Heat 4 – Keep You Posted (25.24) T: Patricia Carrington
2023 Ipswich Sprint Heat 5 – Turbo Blaster (25.11) T: Peter O'Reilly
2023 Ipswich Sprint Heat 6 – White Claw (25.29) T: Michael Geraghty
2023 Ipswich Sprint Heat 7 – Fernando Grand (25.27) T: Gary Mackay
Last year's edition of the Ipswich Sprint was won by Pauline Byers-trained Spring Rock who beat home Springview Magic by 4.25 lengths in a time of 25.16.