Buckle Up Wes will attempt to become the first Tasmanian-trained greyhound to win the Group 1 Sportingbet Paws Of Thunder (520m) when he lines up from box four in the $100,000-to-the-winner showcase event.
Trainer Ted Medhurst, 54, has held a trainer’s licence since he was 17, and while he won the 2012 Sydney and Summer Cups with Bell Haven, he has not landed a group sprint at Wentworth Park.
"I have had greyhounds with similar talent to Buckle Up Wes (pictured) but I probably under-estimated their ability to tackle the top Wentworth Park races," he said.
"Years ago most Tasmanian trainers would not consider heading to Sydney because the standard there was too high.
"But after Tasmanian trainer Debbie Cannan won the 2011 Australian Cup with St Pierre I had a re-think.
"Buckle Up Wes clocked a 5.33 first split in his Paws Of Thunder heat and he’ll probably need to do it again because this is a simply fantastic field.
"Buckle Up Wes has always shown he can run splits like he did in his heat and he is as good as he was last week, he was bouncing off the wall at home last Sunday morning.
"He is good enough to land a big race but whichever dog gets the jump will probably win.
"The final line-up is amazing and that’s to be expected as we’re in a Group 1 final at one of the world’s great greyhound racing venues."
Elle’s Commando’s race record 1997 win gave Tasmania its first win in the race when it was known as the NSW St Leger but was not trained in the Apple Isle.
"Elle’s Commando was trained in Sydney by Don McMillan but was owned in Tassie by Russell Watts," explained Medhurst.
"My only involvement with Elle’s Commando was that I bred his dam Elle Shanty."
The Paws Of Thunder result could well hinge on Saturday’s ballot to decide which box first reserve Punch One Out exits.
At this stage it could be three, five or seven but if she goes into box five, inside the flying Iona Seven (box six) she probably can’t win.
But put Punch One Out in seven, to the right of the keen railing Iona Seven, and she is set to battle out the finish with Buckle Up Wes, Boyce Road and possibly Veyron Bale or Iona Seven.
Although she has drawn box five I’m tipping Lucy Wires to win the Sportingbet Summer Distance Plate as Queensland front-runner Benarkin (box four) should give her a nice cart across in the run to the first turn.
NSW dog Smart Valentino, well boxed in two, looks Lucy Wires’ main danger.
I’m almost expected to be able to tip the winner of The Collerson and despite her box five draw I’m plumping for the Kristy Sultana-trained Brooklyn Drive.
After beating Double Twist on her merits at Wentworth Park on January 4, Brooklyn Drive was the unluckiest runner in the Paws Of Thunder heats, finishing third to Allen Malik after stumbling at the start and then running out and colliding.
Best Bet: Brooklyn Drive (Race 4)
Best Value: Uno Kee (Race 9)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 4, 2, 7
Race 6 – 5, 2
Race 7 – 3, 6
Race 8 – 4, 9, 8, 1
$20 for 41.66%
