Panadero Warrior ready to deliver in Bendigo Cup
After a slow and frustrating start to his career for Paul Abela, Panadero Warrior is delivering on his potential just in time for the Bendigo Cup on Friday night.
The two-year-old clocked a scorching 23.48 seconds over the 425m distance on Sunday night, the standout performance from the heats.
It was his eighth win from 17 starts, after coming up with just one victory from his first five runs for Abela.
He will line up in the difficult box six for the final.
But due to his excellent form, this will not cause Abela any grief.
“Drawing box six for the final doesn't worry me,” he said of the $4.80 winning chance with Ladbrokes.
“But the five (Shima Sheen at $26, who ran 23.87 seconds in his first heat for Garry Selkrig) has good speed and stays up the track.”
Abela said finally things have clicked for Panadero Warrior, which was why he believed he could run a good time going into Sunday night.
“I was scratching my head when he only won one of his first five starts,” the conditioner said of the January 2020 son of Barcia Bale and Time No Money.
“If you take out those first five starts, he's won seven from 12. He tested my patience for a while, but some dogs just take time.
“He went good … It didn't surprise me at all, the time he ran.
“I was confident, without being over-confident. I thought his last two runs at Geelong (winning the heat and running second to Mepunga Mustang in final of Hugh Emmerson Memorial) were super.”
Panadero Warrior winning Bendigo Cup Heat 7
Pandera Warrior's time on Sunday night was three lengths behind Typhoon Sammy's track record of 23.28 seconds, set in the 2021 Cup heats.
Jason Thompson's three-year-old will line up as the $1.90 favourite with greyhound bookmakers from box three in Friday night's final, running an impressive 23.52 seconds in the fifth heat.
“I think Typhoon Sammy is probably drawn the best (box three) and he'll be hard to beat,” Abela said.
“But I'm confident with my bloke. He's racing well and putting the time on the board.”