Elbow’s Rinaldi To Breakthrough For Raven
The oddly named Elbow's Rinaldi get's his chance to break through for another win at Ballarat on Wednesday night.
Elbow's Rinaldi, which is owned by Bradley Masterson has been racing consistently of late, and ran third at the track and distance two starts ago.
In somewhat of a family affair, Elbow's Rinaldi is trained at Smythes Creek by Roger Raven, who is Masterson's father in law.
Raven said that Masterson named the dog after his brother in law, Jim Rinaldi.
“Jim played a lot of football, and obviously his reputation on the field was part of the reason for the dog's name.” Raven said.
Raven is upbeat about the chances of Elbow's Rinaldi winning the Neverfail Springwater Grade 5 over 550 metres.
“He's been racing well in very competitive races of late, and should appreciate the drop in class” he said.
Elbow's Rinaldi is a large dog at 41 kilo's, and get's his chance from a suitable Box 7 draw.
“He's not a brilliant beginner from the boxes, but he runs home hard in his races.”
“Hopefully he can get a clear run in the race, and then run over the top of the opposition.”
Raven expects local chasers Rocks Back and Uno Madness to be the hardest for his chaser to beat.
Rocks Back won two starts back at Horsham, before obtaining a check in running at The Meadows on Saturday night.
Uno Madness has good form over the track and distance, but will need luck from his box draw.
Raven is a hobby trainer who combines his passion of greyhound racing with his full time work commitments as a pastry cook.
The 35 year veteran of training has only ever had a small kennel of dog's, but rates Satins Style as the best he has had over the years.
Meanwhile, there will be six heats of the MTD Grade 5 on the twelve race program.
The Lake Goldsmith kennel of Steve Collins could be one to follow in the heats as he will rug up two of the pre post favorites.
Collins has Fitzy Bale from Box 4 in heat 1, and Total Madness from Box 6 in heat 3.
Both have good form leading into their respective heats and should be hard to beat.
His other favored runner is Lancome Bale in heat 4, which has the coveted Box 1 draw.
The six heat winners and two fastest second placed greyhounds from the heats will advance to the final to be run next Wednesday night.