Final Golden Easter Egg Positions Secured
Noble Pedro’s Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg Prelude win (520m) on Saturday night at Wentworth Park has given trainer Mary Wright a strong contender in the April 9, Group One heats following the greyhound’s best of the night 29.79 dazzling performance.
Wright, who trained the 2006 Golden Easter Egg winner, Edie Beauchamp, admits another prized trophy would be wonderful, and the son of Where’s Pedro x Miss Beeslee is in a good position to challenge this year’s event.
“It would be nice to win another one, but that would be down right greedy wouldn’t it,” Wright said following Saturday’s Prelude.
“We came second (2005), then we won it, and now he (Noble Pedro) is running time enough to win it.
“If all goes well then that’s what we’ll aim for.”
Impressed with her starter which has recently returned from a spell, having posted two sub 30 second runs in the past fortnight at headquarters, Wright is excited about the weeks ahead as leading greyhounds get ready to make their assault on the world’s richest greyhound race.
So bright is the Egg trophy light, the Appin based trainer had almost overlooked the increased winner’s purse.
“The one we won was $140,000 (prizemoney), I’d forgotten about the $250,000. Now I’m nervous!” Wright said.
Having finished second last week, the Luke Azzopardi trained Priminate finally secured his Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg heat berth when taking out the first of Saturday’s Preludes in 30.26, ¾ of a length ahead of Kiowa Rebel.
In the final chance to book an Egg start it was Queenslander Bogie Beltah which found the line first, ahead of Tiger Sing Man and Rafferty Flyer, clocking 30.43 in her first look at the Wentworth Park circuit.
The win has secured trainer Ryan Ayre with two priority entries in the April 9 heats, thanks to Bogie Beltah’s Prelude win and kennelmate Bogie King’s National Derby win at The Gardens back in February.
“With Bogie King already in (to the Golden Easter Egg heats) I wanted to trial him solo,” Ayre said.
The National and Queensland Derby winner displayed a sizzling burst of speed through the catching pen in his solo trial to post a 13.89 second section, with an overall 29.92 time recorded.
With many vying for a Golden Easter Egg start, Ayre was convinced the Preludes were the best way to assure Bogie Beltah a start in two weeks.
“I didn’t think she’d get in being a fifth grader, so I had to give her a chance given we were bringing King down.”
Ayre was impressed with the red brindle bitch’s efforts on Saturday, given the awkward draw (box seven) and not having previously run at the Glebe track.
“She is certainly fast enough, there is nothing between her and Bogie King when I trial them together,” Ayre said.
“She just hasn’t got the race smarts like he does, but she is getting there.”
Ayre anticipates that his travellers will improve on their first look at Wentworth Park and is hoping they will be serious contenders in this year’s Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg.
The NSW GBOTA, Executive Officer Brenton Scott, was pleased with the level of support granted to this year’s Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg Preludes.
“The Preludes provided the surest way for trainers in doubt to secure priority entry into the heats and I applaud those who have capitalised on the opportunity,” Scott said.
Trainers are reminded that nominations for the 2011 Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg Heats (April 9) close this Friday, April 1 at 9am to GRNSW.