Keinbah trainer Robert Howard wins both Gosford Thunderbolt heats
Keinbah-based greyhound trainer Robert Howard has won both the heats of the Gosford round of The Thunderbolt heats, to qualify two greyhounds toward the semi-finals at Grafton.
The 32 semi-finalists will converge on Grafton on June 18 for four semi-finals, with first and second progressing to the $75,000 to-the-winner final on June 24.
The Thunderbolt race series is worth over $200,000 for the NSW short course dogs.
The Thunderbolt heats action continued on Tuesday night greyhound racing with Bulli and Gosford holding heats, after Wagga greyhounds held the first round of heats on Friday night, that saw Talakai run a new track record.
Bulli greyhound track received enough nominations to run four heats of The Thunderbolt over 340m with the four winners headed to the semi-finals.
Gosford greyhound track could only muster two heats for the series, with runners needing to run first or second to progress.
Robert Howard won the opening heat with Clock Off who used box eight to perfection to swoop around and down on the field to take command of the race, going on to win by 3.75 lengths in 22.06 (best-of-night).
Clock Off was priced as a +210 second favourite with greyhound bookmakers, behind Wilson's Pick who was the +190 favourite from box one.
The run by Clock Off allowed Yeager Bullet to get the ideal trail behind from box seven, and he qualified for the Grafton Thunderbolt semi-finals finishing second at greyhound odds of +1100.
Favourite Wilson's Pick finished third, 4.25 lengths from the winner.
Gosford Thunderbolt Heat 1 (388m) – Clock Off (22.06) T: Robert Howard
Clock Off, who is now unbeaten at his past four races, is by Ando's Mac out of Mayfair Miss, and was a 2023 Group 2 Maitland Cup finalist.
He has had 32 race starts for 19 wins and 8 minor placings, winning $44,870 in prizemoney.
Yeager Bullet (Fabregas x Kendra's Chance) is trained by Leslie Chaytor, and has won 18 of 64 starts, running a further 25 placings, while earning connections prizemoney of $41,220.
Pennies Forever provided Howard's second winner, and second The Thunderbolt semi-finalist, by winning the last of the two heats, in what ended up a roughhouse affair that saw two greyhounds fall.
Aided by the inside draw, Pennies Forever was able to just keep pushing up on the inside, as the whole field converged on the corner, with Aston Roja stealing the early lead from box four.
As Pennies Forever established it's running, Danseuse came down, and then took out the rest of the field; bringing down +500 third favourite Too Sassy, and destroying any chance that the -222.22 favourite with greyhound betting sites, Vamoose, may have had.
Vamoose had been trying to remain undefeated at his past four starts, while Too Sassy had previously never been beaten from box six.
Both Danseuse and Too Sassy regained their feet and finished the race despite the falls.
In what became a two dog greyhound race, second favourite at greyhound odds of +400, Pennies Forever, was easily able to reel in Aston Roja (+8000) late to go on and win in 22.51 by 1.5 lengths.
Gosford Thunderbolt Heat 2 (388m) – Pennies Forever (22.51) T: Robert Howard
The win by Pennies Forever gives Robert Howard two semi finalists headed to Grafton on June 18, trying to qualify for the $75,000-to-the-winner The Thunderbolt final over 350m on June 24.
The daughter of Bernardo and Zipper's Me Mum has won 10 of 21 race starts, and run a further seven second places, earning $21,800.
Since taking over the training of Pennies Forever from Peter Sims in January 2023, Howard has started the 28kg black bitch seven times for four wins.
Aston Roja (Fernando Bale x Aston Lolita) is trained by Brian Hampton, and is the veteran of just 15 starts, with four wins and six placings.
The 32 semi-finalists will converge on Grafton on June 18 for four semi-finals, with first and second progressing to the $75,000-to-the-winner final on June 24.
The Thunderbolt race series is worth over $200,000 for the NSW short course dogs.
The Thunderbolt heats continue on Wednesday at Taree greyhound track, with further heats to be run at Goulburn, Richmond, Dubbo, and Grafton.
Four greyhounds will progress from each track series to the semi-finals.
Greyhound trainer Rob Tyler currently leads The Thunderbolt training honours having qualified two greyhounds through the Wagga heats, and winning with Wicked Cyclone as fastest qualifier from Tuesday night's Thunderbolt heats at Bulli.
Robert Howard's Gosford double has him as second leading trainer with two Thunderbolt semi-finalists.
2023 The Thunderbolt Semi Finalists
Wagga Heats
- Talakai – T: Wayne Wilmott
- Loretta Bale – T: Ike McCorkindale
- Seely's Queen – T: Rob Tyler
- Preston Lee – T: Rob Tyler
Gosford Heats
- Clock Off – T: Robert Howard
- Pennies Forever – T: Robert Howard
- Yeager Bullet – T: Leslie Chaytor
- Aston Roja – T: Brian Hampton
Bulli Heats
- Wicked Cyclone – T: Rob Tyler
- Coco Model – T: Tayt Corless
- Return Mac – T: Shayne Stiff
- Senorita Joy – T: Steven Sealey