Mepunga Ruby return looming as Britton eyes Great Chase glory
The mighty Mepunga Ruby is not far off making her return, and top Victorian metropolitan trainer Jeff Britton is hoping his next star to follow in her footsteps can emerge on Wednesday night.
That is when he will have a handful of runners compete in The Great Chase semi-finals at The Meadows.
With his star three-year-old bitch progressing nicely from a broken metatarsal as he builds her up for the $75,000 Topgun Stayers (730m) on November 5, Britton’s attention will shift to The Chase semi-finals over 525m.
“I’m hoping something can come from The Chase with these dogs. I’m hoping they can go forward, otherwise there aren’t any real superstars on the horizon,” Britton told Australian Racing Greyhound.
These thoughts could well be typically humble words from the Anakie conditioner who was crowned the 2021-22 Greyhound Racing Victoria Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership winner in August.
That is because he has no shortage of competitive runners who will start in the semi-finals on Wednesday night.
“I’ve got Cosmic Sin (in the first semi-final). it’s pretty hard – these dogs come from different tracks, so there isn’t a lot of Meadows form,” Britton said.
“But he’s got Meadows form, and he’s got a bit of early pace.
“He likes the middle boxes (drawing box five for Wednesday night) and can run around 5.10 seconds to the first mark. That would put him in the race.
“Mepunga Raider (in the third semi-final) – he’s a very fast dog but slow early. So he’d have to find the right run somewhere.
“I’ve got Cardigan Girl, who is Ange’s (partner Angela Langton, in semi-final four), and Ava Blazer. It looks like Ava Blazer got into box seven (previously an emergency runner).
“She’s got a bit of pace, so she’s a chance if she goes well. And Cardigan Girl had some bad luck in running last week.
“So I think they’re both some sort of chance in that race.”
Britton said 21-month-old Westar Commander could find the going tough alongside Commander Tommy in semi-final five, with Quest For Extra, Catch A Pearl, Bop Bop and Major Currency all scratched.
“Westar Commander is probably a little bit inexperienced for this. He’s only had five starts,” Britton said.
“He’s had a bit of work at the Meadows, but I he hasn’t had a full 500 yet.
“So there’s a little bit of a question-mark on him.
“He might be a sitting duck for Commander Tommy who ran 29 seconds (to win in 29.70 seconds over 525m on September 3).
“So it might be a bit hard, I’d say.
“And Blazin’ Master (in semi-final six) – no pace early. He’s running for luck, but he is flying.”
Meanwhile, Britton said Mepunga Ruby was building back her fitness nicely.
The star stayer with $377,895 to her name had her last start on June 4.
“She’s back trialing coming back from a broken metatarsal. She’s getting fitter and she’s trialing well,” he said.
“The Topgun comes around soon, so I’ll have to step her up a bit further.
“But she’s coming along nicely.
“She’s always competitive in big races, and it’s been exciting every week. When you’ve got a good stayer you end up in all the good races.”
Britton is trying not to make Mepunga Ruby feel rushed in his efforts to have her in peak condition for the Group 1 Topgun Stayers.
“She’s getting a little bit long in the tooth, but being a stayer she’s got more of a chance at coming back than if she was a sprinter,” he said.
“I’m only running her over 400 at the moment, which will move up to 500, and we’ll go from there.
“Her run home was really good at Meadows yesterday. Her next trial will be 500m, and I hope she gets through everything without pulling up sore.”
Fellow star three-year-old stayer Mepunga Warrior is being aimed at the $75,000 Hume Cup over 600m also on November 5, and that too is a Group 1 feature.
“Mepunga Warrior – I’m finding it hard to find 600m races. I’ve just got to wait for the Hume Cup to come around,” Britton said.
Britton also gave an update on fellow kennel stars, Hank The Hustler and Do It.
Do It’s last win was at The Meadows on August 6.
“Hank The Hustler has gone back home; I’d say he’s retired. And (Do It) is getting a bit long in the tooth and finding it a bit hard,” he said.
Britton said having a big team of dogs and a supportive family helped him on his journey to picking up his first GRV metro trainers’ title, which was presented to him in August.
“It’s about your numbers. I trialed 20 dogs yesterday. You’ve got to have the numbers to keep them coming through,” he said.
“There are a lot of dogs you have to go through to get the good ones.
“You have to race a lot of slow ones, and hopefully you see them improve.
“I’ve got eight staff. It’s just got bigger and bigger.
“The dogs all had a really good year and were consistent around the city.
“That’s what I try to aim for – city racing. It (winning the best metro trainer in Victoria) was a big thrill and I didn’t expect it.
“I’ve always been in the top few, and it was just good to come out at the right end of it, for a change.”
Britton said the advice of champion conditioner and brother Rob, and legendary father Allan, has also helped him over the years.
“It’s always easy to ring Robert to discuss things, and Dad over the years as well,” he said.
“Sometimes I’ll check one of Robert’s dogs and he’ll check mine just to try and find something, or for reassurance.
“Dad won one (metro trainers’ title) and Robert might’ve won a couple.”
Mepunga Rugby is an $8 chance with greyhound racing betting sites to win the Topgun stayers, behind race favourite Super Estrella ($3.50)