Untapped on course for Pink Diamond tilt
Untapped is not ready to tap out just yet and is preparing to tackle the $1.17 million Pink Diamond series, with heats commencing at Ballarat on June 8.
The four-year-old bitch has had 62 starts for 15 wins and 24 placings, earning $323,310 along the way.
She ran in the Group 1 Sandown Cup last week, finishing seventh behind Korda, but trainer Dustin Drew says she is showing no signs of stopping.
“She pulled up really well,” Drew told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“You wouldn't even know she has gone around.
“She came through the race really well.”
2023 Sandown Cup replay
Winner: Korda (41.83)
Untapped ran second in her heat for the feature, showing her trainer that she still had a lot to give.
“She is still really competitive as she showed two weeks ago in the heats of the Sandown Cup,” Drew said.
“The other night (in the final) she had no luck and that's all a part of racing.”
Drew sees the Pink Diamond, with finals night scheduled for June 16 at Warragul, as too big of an opportunity for his chaser to miss.
“The Pink Diamond is worth good money and has great incentive,” he said.
“We are probably mad if we didn't have a crack at it.
“Then we will wait to see if we go to Brisbane and see where she is at.”
The trainer said that Untapped was a race-to-race proposition and that with the up-and-coming talent booming onto our tracks, the decision on retirement may come sooner rather than later.
“Look at some of the dogs coming through – Zipping Orlando with another six months and he is going to be a real super dog,” Drew said.
“Like Wildfire is going to run 700 on his ear and will be something really special.
“I put her up the straight yesterday and she did well.
“So we will get through next week and go on from there.
“She will tell us when it's time to stop and she has had enough.”