Visitor’s Clean Up Tamworth Cup Heats
Visiting greyhounds swept the heats of next Saturday's $4000 Tamworth Gold Cup (457m) in Tamworth on Saturday with trainers from Cessnock, Lochinvar and Orange dominating.
Cessnock-trained Sins Spirit won the first 457m Cup heat in 25.86secs, Lochinvar dog Cross Me Not cruised to a four and half length victory clocking 26.02secs in the second heat, and Orange bitch Montana Belle recorded 26.13secs in winning the final heat by three and a quarter lengths.
Cyril Dooley trains Sins Spirit but the veteran trainer was unable to attend Saturday's heats and left the blue and white dog in the capable hands of fellow trainer John Crossley.
“Cyril lost his wife three weeks ago and has been feeling poorly,” Crossley.
“We're hoping he can come up for the Cup next Saturday.
“He (Sins Spirit) came out beautifully today but he's a better dog over the 600m.”
Sins Spirit has won 17 of his 36 starts for Cyril Dooley, who bred and reared the son of Elite State.
“He's been a good little dog for Cyril,” Crossley said.
“His first start in a race he won a maiden at Mudgee and broke the track record.”
Crossley is hoping to draw the outside box in next Saturday's Tamworth Gold Cup.
Orange owner/trainer Greg Board is hoping for an inside draw with Montana Belle. The white and black bitch drew seven box but Board reckons she will be hard to beat if she can draw inside.
Ray Lee and Louise McGee prepare their dogs at Lochinvar and finished with a double on the day after Sinatra won earlier in the day for them.
Cross Me Not is almost four years of age and the veteran notched his 30th win Saturday.
‘We'd love to have 10 more like him,” Lee said. “He can run.”
Tamworth races again Wednesday night with the final of the Mighty Maiden.
Courtesy : Tamworth Northern Daily Leader