Darren McDonald’s bid to win a third Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg is on track after Dark Warrior’s gritty performance to score first-up at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Dark Warrior took his record to an astonishing 31 wins from 57 starts when he raced head-and-head with the Steve Collins-trained Dyna Geldof in an Egg Prelude, bouncing off that dog near the home turn, but then accelerating away to win by two lengths.
"Dark Warrior is a real competitor, a true race dog for whom the race is never over," Darren said after the race.
After watching Saturday’s win, who could argue with that assessment?
Darren, who won the Golden Easter Egg with Brett Lee in 2001 and Cosmic Rumble in 2010, was also represented on Saturday by a couple of his lesser light Egg entries, There’s A Earn and Where’s The Surf, who were both runners-up at their Wentworth Park debuts.
Darren was particularly impressed by There's A Earn.
"I really like this dog, he has a lot of potential," he said.
Dyna Willow has drawn box six in next Saturday night’s Betfair Cup final but on Saturday’s heat form she will still win.
The Victorian star had box seven when she came from fourth at the first turn and second on the back straight to beat the fast finishing Lucy Wires in 42.04.
Lucy Wires’ kennelmate Born Ali led throughout to win the other heat in 42.41.
Lucy Wires has drawn ideally in box one in the final and is undefeated in three races carrying the red rug.
But she had every chance on Saturday night and bookmaker Mark Merlino said later: "The only way Lucy Wires can beat Dyna Willow in the final is if she is in front of her in the early stages, and it is hard to see that happening."
Is there a more improved greyhound than Crash Model, who scored her third successive win when she came off an unsuitable box eight draw to lead throughout in Saturday’s Sportingbet Stakes?
Trained by St Marys battler Keith Waddington, for her breeder Clay Mullens, Crash Model will now tackle the Golden Easter Egg heats on April 5.
"This bitch’s resurrection is amazing," Clay said.
"When she was being broken in I got a call from the educator who told me I was going to have a lot of fun with her as she was something really special.
"But just before her education was finished she tore muscles away from a shoulder.
"Veterinary advice was that she would never race but I could keep her for breeding.
"Obviously I’m still going to be doing that but to see her winning races and getting ready to tackle the Easter Egg is a miracle."
There were several sizzling trials at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Perth Cup winner Keybow went solo in 29.62, posting splits of 5.49, 13.76 and 17.87.
Meanwhile, Horsham Cup winner Crump recorded 5.47, 13.77 and 17.89 on the way to a 29.85 solo hitout.
Glen Rounds’ All Strung Out in 29.66 with sections of 5.53, 13.88 and 17.95 while Rounds after maiden Anything Less trialled in 29.79 with splits of 5.51, 13.84 and 17.94. Both will be aimed for the Magic Maiden series.
Rounds is taking a well earned holiday in Thailand and Marty Hallinan, the most successful breeder in NSW racing, is caring for his greyhounds in the leadup to the Magic Maiden heats on April 6.
"These youngsters had not been tried over 520 metres until tonight so to run those times first go is phenomenal," Marty said.
The greyhound to follow from Friday and Saturday’s Wentworth Park meetings is Romantic Affair, whose second placing to Scout’s Gold on Friday was the biggest run of either night by a beaten greyhound.
The Mario Abela-trained dog was checked soon after the start and then turned sideways at the first turn before coming from last at the halfway mark to beat all but the winner.
See you next week!
