Trio of littermates to contest seperate group race finals next weekend
IT IS a massive feat to get one runner into a group race final, yet this week three greyhounds from the talented El Grand Senor x Time And Money litter will line up in three separate feature races in NSW and Victoria.
Headlining the trio is Tiempo Dinero which will head into Saturday's Group 2 Horsham Cup (485m) as the fastest qualifier after winning his heat in hot time on Friday.
Jumping from box three against dual group 1 winner Out Of Range (Fernando Bale x Nicki Fields Dec '15), Tiempo Dinero speared the lids and raced straight to the front, defeating the odds-on favourite by two and three quarter lengths in a sizzling 27.06.
Formerly prepared in NSW by Donna Campbell, Tiempo Dinero made the move to Victoria late last year and has now won six of his 12 starts for prominent conditioner Michael Carter.
All up he has won 17 races from 36 starts with 12 placings including the Group 3 Nowra Puppy Classic for Campbell, while he has also qualified for the Group 2 Warragul Cup under the tutelage of Carter.
Also qualifying for big race finals this week are Big Black and Chase The Cash which will contest the Group 2 Richmond Derby and the Group 2 Richmond Oaks respectively.
Big Black went into Friday's heats after a short freshen up and was far from disgraced when running second behind Victorian greyhound Aston Frankel (Fabregas x Aston Ainslie Aug '15) which stopped the clock in 30.64.
The well-named 37.5-kilogram powerhouse pleased Campbell, who trains the 19-time winner for owner Dallas Singh.
“He has really bad sand toes so he missed a bit of work going into the heats – he had only had one 400 in two weeks,” Campbell told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“I was very happy with his run. He was underdone and that's a hard run down there at Richmond. He looked like he was going to threaten the winner at one stage, but he hit a bit of a wall which I expected.
“He should be better for the run.”
Big Black has drawn box eight for the $40,000 to the winner final and will meet a sensational field including fellow heat winners Aston Duke (Go Wild Teddy x Aston Elle Jan '16), Hone In (Spring Gun x Benalla Doll Oct '14) and Two Times Twice (Fernando Bale x Chica Destacada Apr '16).
Meanwhile, Chase The Cash will be looking for her 13th career win when she jumps from box six in the Oaks final. The red brindle bitch was defeated by a head in her heat on Friday by Poco Dorado (Fernando Bale x Chica Destacada Apr '16) which clocked a handy 30.75.
Prepared by Craig Watts, Chase The Cash is likely to be one of the outsiders, with Group 1 National Futurity champ Blue Sky Riot (Barcia Bale x Ready To Riot Feb '16) the one to beat after defeating dual group winner Up Hill Jill (Premier Fantasy x Where's Demonica Feb '15) in a best of night 30.44.
Campbell says it would be a massive thrill to see one, or more, of the trio taste success next weekend for their connections. While she admits Big Black may struggle to overcome box eight in the Derby final, she does rate Tiempo Dinero a big chance of capturing the Horsham Cup.
2018 Group 2 Derby and Oaks box draw!
Who's your tip? pic.twitter.com/C0buOG93sB— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) March 3, 2018
The 40-kilogram heavyweight, owned by Dean Leydecker, will have to overcome box four and will meet a super field including Bulli Cup runner-up Jimmy Newob (Cosmic Rumble x Nosey Rozy May '15), Out Of Range and Melbourne Cup superstar Aston Dee Bee (Barcia Bale x Aston Elle Apr '15).
And despite handing over the training reigns to Carter, Campbell says she will still be cheering for her former superstar when the lids fly open this Saturday night.
“It broke my heart when he went to Victoria, but I know it was the best decision for him as he is a one-turn dog and there are more opportunities for him down there.
“He is a very fast dog. I have always said that when he jumps there wouldn't be a dog in Australia which could run him down, but his biggest downfall is that he either comes out running or he misses the start completely.
“Hopefully he can come out well in the final this week – he really deserves to win a big race.”