Luddenham trainer John Callaughan admits he rarely ventures to Bathurst to race but is hoping the trip is worthwhile when he heads to the central western track today.
Callaughan said the reason he is travelling to Bathurst is for a heat of the Julie Healey Memorial (450m) with Rum Punch, while travelling companion Knocka Less will make his racetrack debut from box four in the opening event, the GBOTA Bathurst Maiden (307m).
"Knocka Less performance trialled alright over the 400m at Bulli but that is about as far as he can go," Callaughan said.
"He's no superstar but I think he'll go alright in the 300-400m races and I'm hoping he can win today."
Rum Punch will start from box three in race nine, the fourth and final heat of the Julie Healey Memorial (450m), a race for greyhounds with 0-2 wins.
"It's not very often I go to Bathurst but I thought this was a nice series for him and the final is worth a bit of money to the winner ($2,000)," Callaughan said.
Rum Punch has started five times for one win and two placings, and finished an eye-catching second at Bulli last Wednesday night.
"He's a nice little dog," Callaughan said. "I haven't trialled him at Bathurst so he's going in cold.
"He won his maiden nicely at Maitland and then I took him to Richmond and Gosford and he didn't begin on the bend starts.
"It's a bend start at Bathurst so I'm just hoping he jumps a lot better and if he does he'll be hard to beat."
Rum Punch had his first start beyond 400m last week when he led and was run down by the smart Gold Buccaneer over the 472m at Bulli.
"That was his first 472m and he was only collared in the last 20 metres, and by a fairly smart dog," Callaughan said.
"I was very happy with the run because I threw him in at the deep end.
"So with that run under his belt he should go pretty close to winning today."
The first race at Bathurst today is scheduled to start at 4.15pm, for full fields click here.
