Bobby Blanco, believed to be the second fastest ever maiden winner at Gosford, goes around at the track again Tuesday night, with trainer DEAN Swain keen to get the dog to Wentworth Park as soon as possible.
"I intend to get him to Wentworth Park as fast as I can," Swain said.
Bobby Blanco took the lead at the first turn to win his 515m maiden last Tuesday night in 29.45, a mere 0.15 outside the Gosford record.
No wonder DEAN, who landed his first Group 1 final when Rue De Kahn won this year’s National Futurity, is already aiming Bobby Blanco for the Group 3 New Sensation at Wentworth Park.
The New Sensation heats will be run on April 4 with the $25,000 to the winner final a fortnight later.
"After last week’s maiden at Gosford a couple of other trainers thought the time must have been wrong but I knew Bobby Blanco was capable of those sort of figures," DEAN said.
"Previous fastest maiden winner at Gosford was my dad Sid’s dog Billy The Sid, who actually broke the course record in his first win there.
"Bobby Blanco has always been able to run but he can be a bit hit and miss at the start and is a big 35 kilogram dog.
"I had been setting him for last year’s Richmond Maiden Classic but he got run off the track in a heat and strained the ligaments in a stopper bone.
"When I brought him back from that injury he slipped 25.60 at Richmond and ran home in 14.80 which is exceptional.
"Then he ran second in a 400 metre maiden at Bulli but that distance is a bit short for him.
"Last Tuesday night’s race at Gosford was Bobby Blanco’s first 500 metre run in four months so naturally I was very pleased with how he went.
"I’ve been asked why I didn’t save him up for the Magic Maiden heats at Wenty on April 6 but I’ve seen too many dogs over the years which have been kept for special races like that and then they get hurt."
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Cooranbong trainer Beau Hedley surely set a record last Friday when he won a maiden race at Unibet Gardens in blistering time with Can Of and a few hours later scored a spectacular technical knockout victory in the second round of his first fight!
Boxing as an amateur and prepared for his stoush at Newcastle Panthers Club by fellow greyhound trainer Artie Armstrong, Beau conceded 5.5kg to his rival but won comfortably, cheered on by several tables of greyhound racing identities.
And Can Of will be rushed to Wentworth Park as soon as possible following his 29.61 win at Unibet Gardens, recorded despite being severely hampered in the early stages.
"When I first started him off I thought Can Of was going to struggle getting 515 metres," Beau said.
"But before he won his maiden on Friday he trialled 29.50 at The Gardens so he has improved out of sight."
Beau added: "I am scheduled to fight again in 12 weeks’ time."
