Hellyeah Bolt Logical Minister’s Gift Favourite
Smart chaser Hellyeah Bolt (Dyna Lachlan – Flash Diamond) is likely to be favourite for the rich Minister's Gift Final (461 metres) to be conducted at Thursday night's HGRC meeting at Tattersalls Park in Hobart.
The lightly raced Paul Hili prepared, Hellyeah Syndicate owned chaser is the winner of eight of 14 lifetime outings, including a recent Angle Park victory and can boast a Tattersalls Park pb of 25.75 for the journey.
Despite having succumbed to the Mick Stringer prepared Club Foot ( Mogambo – Von's Angel) in last Tuesday's qualifying heat at the Devonport Raceway when he was inconvenienced, Hellyeah Bolt is expected to bounce back and prove to be the testing material on Thursday night.
The Mangalore based Stringer will be represented by both Club Foot and Orange Boy ( Aston Galilee – Patsy Anne) in the Minister's Gift and although very happy with their condition, has great respect for Hellyeah Bolt.
“He is a class act and if able to obtain a clear run is obviously the greyhound to beat, but in saying that I am not conceding defeat,” he explained.
“I would have liked to draw wider with Orange Boy, but he is racing very well and Club Foot is not crashing down to the rail like he was, in fact they have both matured and will give a great sight.”
“If either of them are in front of Hellyeah Bolt when the field settles, believe me they will take plenty of running down.”
The astute Stringer is no stranger to Minister's Gift success, having won the annual feature last year with the the very good Bearville Phil ( Give Me Five – Von's Angel).
Meanwhile fellow Mangalore mentor Allan Anderson is not overjoyed at the prospect of Lashing Illusion (Lilli Pilli Lad – Illusion), the winner of eight of 28 lifetime outings, attempting to win the Minister's Gift from the red box.
“The inside box at Tattersalls Park does not appear to be as advantageous as it is at either of the other two Tasmanian tracks,” he explained.
“I would have preferred drawing elsewhere with Lashing Illusion, but then she is racing well and cannot be excluded from the winning chances.
“It is a very hot field and I rate Hellyeah Bolt and Club Foot, which is well drawn, as the main dangers.”
Anderson is currently enjoying a great run of success with his team, but has received a bad report about his kennel star Lashing Jill ( Lilli Pilli Lad – Illusion), which at her most recent run in August rocketed home for third placing behind Smart Valentino in the National Distance Championship.
“She remained in Victoria after the Distance Championship, but I am told that she was injured in a trial and will probably not race again,” he explained.
“I believe that she will be returning to my kennel next week, but what the future holds for her I am not sure.”
MINISTER'S GIFT (461 Metres) 1st $10,000 2nd $2,850 3rd $1,430 4th $130
- Lashing Illusion (Allan Anderson)
- Palooka (Neville Allison)
- Pipstar (Robin Grubb)
- Orange Boy (Mick Stringer)
- Hellyeah Bolt (Paul Hili)
- Blinking Becky (Paul Hili)
- Club Foot (Mick Stringer)
- Black Bessie (Ian Callinan)
- Molly's Legacy (Noelene Garwood) Em 1
- Sentry Duty (Mick Stringer) Em 2