First A Track Record, Now Loathsome Set For Group Two Richmond Derby Glory
After torrential rain delayed the World 4 Pets Group Two Richmond Derby heats that were scheduled for last Saturday evening at Richmond, the club was forced to postpone them to Tuesday. However it was certainly worth the wait as a red hot Richmond circuit provided some thoroughly entertaining racing including a new track record.
Loathsome, a young dog by Bombastic Shiraz out of highly successful broodbitch Emmalana proved he is the real deal after notching up his eighth career win from just eleven starts and last Tuesday set a scorching new Richmond 535m track record of 30.16, lowering the time of 30.17 that was set by Sand Burner back in 2009.
Trained at Austral by prolific trainer Jason Magri, all signs are pointing to connections being handed the $25,000 winner's cheque after Loathsome drew the coveted box one seemingly only bad luck standing in his way. In his heat win last week, he was forced to match strides early with the fast beginning Tuiaki however after Loathsome took the lead from the winning post, it was only a matter of times and margins. In a talented field that also included second placegetter and fellow finalist November Tribute, Loathsome blew away his rivals by six lengths and posted a breathtaking 15.14 second split.
In heat one, Decembrist produced a trademark come from behind performance to score by a length over Fast Torana in a respectable 30.74. Trained in Victoria by Robert Douglas, the winner of ten races from just twenty starts began moderately and was hampered repeatedly at the first corner before making his run at the top of the home turn. There is an obvious sign for improvement if he can avoid interference for the first part of the race and will no doubt be steaming home.
Darren McDonald is a name that is commonly attached to a Group winner and White Knuckles could certainly provide another trophy for his cabinet with an impressive 30.54 performance in heat two. After beginning only mid-field, the favourite from box one quickly mustered impressive speed to score by 3 and a half lengths. The promising young star by Run House's has recorded a speedy 29.33 over the 515m at Sandown Park and was recently a finalist in the Australia Cup.
After the favourite Proven Chevy began poorly and was subjected to heavy interference, consistent sprinter and outside Twitter Me took full advantage of a clear run to take out heat four in 30.84 over the flying Humdrum who mustered an incredible burst of run home speed to fill second place just one and a half lengths behind the winner. Twitter Me has been a consistent performer at Wentworth Park recently and will have to overcome once again the awkward box six.
Two lively chances in this Saturday night's final were produced in heat five with as expected the Jason Mackay prepared star Glen Abbey Man leading all the way from box one in a solid 30.33 with the fastest run home time of the heats, 14.99. Just as impressive was McQueen, who found early interference but took several lengths off the winner to qualify for second place. The Frank Hurst trained youngster has solid Richmond form and posted a fast 30.04 in his first Wentworth Park win a few starts back.
As expected box draws always play a major role in determining early favourites and how each greyhound can use their early speed.
The box draw for the final is: 1. Loathsome, 2. White Knuckles, 3. November Tribute, 4. Decembrist, 5. Glenn Abbey Man, 6. Twitter Me, 7. McQueen and 8. Fancy Dean. The boxes will rise for the final at 8.39pm on Sky Racing Two.