Spacecraft shooting for the stars in Group 1 Peter Mosman series
PROMISING NSW chaser Spacecraft will be aiming to recapture some of his best form when he contests a semi-final of the Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Trained on the Central Coast by Lorraine Atchison, Spacecraft finished fourth behind Camacho in his last heat after finding interference from box seven.
His $3.50 fixed price with Bet365 appears to be good value, with the regally-bred son of Brett Lee and Cristalle already a winner in 14 races, including a determined victory in the Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup.
While the black greyhound has been racing a little below his best in recent weeks, Atchison has put this down to a few niggling injuries arising from striking the outside fence at the Sydney track four starts back, believing he will be cherry ripe for his assignment on Saturday.
“I am hoping for an improved run on last week. We weren't totally disappointed with his last run because we thought with hitting the fence that night that it would take a couple of runs to iron that out,” Atchison said.
“We have been working on him and he feels very well. We have given him a couple of free gallops and he feels wonderful within himself so it is full steam ahead.”
Spacecraft needs to finish in the top two to make it through to the $75,000-to-the-winner final and faces a talented field of greyhounds including No Donuts (box three) and Winsome Amanda (box six).
There is also set to be a touch of sibling rivalry in the event, with Lorraine's sisters Carol Eaton and Noelene Holloway training and owning box two runner One Samuel.
“No Donuts is a very good dog and I think he is the hardest one to beat, for sure, but If he (Spacecraft) could run up to his 29.62 personal best then I think he will be winning,” she said.
“It would be lovely to make the final, mainly for the dog's sake rather than ours. I have had this race eyed off for him for a while, he is a good pup and I think it would be great to see him in the final.”
Atchison has great faith in her speedy chaser and already has interstate plans in the back of her mind.
“Right from the start he just looked as though he would be a bit more special than your average dog.
“It is definitely on the agenda to take him to Melbourne and give him a look down there and if something comes along that suits him we'll have a crack at it.”
Atchison is sure to have plenty of supporters on Saturday night, coming from a very large and successful greyhound racing family.
Her mother Joan Singline is is respected trainer, as are her sisters, while she also trains from the same property as her son-in-law, Troy MacDonald.
“It is a real family affair with us – mum and dad always sit up and watch them and we all get so excited for one another.
“We love the dogs, it is a really passion – thats the key word. I think you have to have that passion to really feel what we feel.
“I always think how lucky we are to have these beautiful animals and this great life – there are some very lovely people in the dog game and I am very thankful for the dogs and what they have done for my life. “
Watch Spacecraft win in slick time from box four last month.