Hellyeah Bolt takes another step towards becoming the first Tasmanian greyhound to win the Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg when he contests the 520m Christian Clark Cup at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
The Anthony Bullock-trained dog took his record to 19 wins from 30 starts when he won first up at Wentworth Park last week in 29.92.
But Brian McKivat, the greyhound’s caretaker trainer during his Sydney campaign, believes Hellyeah Bolt can get down to 29.50 or 29.60 at Wentworth Park.
"Given the right conditions he is capable of that sort of time," Brian said.
"Hellyeah Bolt won from box eight last week and has drawn seven this week but Anthony reckons he is a better dog from an inside draw.
"He says Buckle Up Wes, Tasmania’s Group 1 winning greyhound, has about a length on Hellyeah Bolt out of the boxes but that Bolt’s last section is his best.
"I met Anthony while I stayed with him when I took Budapest to Tasmania for the Launceston Cup a couple of years back.
"He has a massive operation down there, with 50 to 60 dogs in work and around 160 greyhounds on his property where he even processes his own meat.
"Hellyeah Bolt was flown to Sydney on March 13, two days after winning at Devonport and just 24 hours before he trialled 29.89 at Wentworth Park.
"I only have eight greyhounds in work but I think Hellyeah Bolt is enjoying the one-on-one attention he is getting in a small kennel.
"I spend most of my time in the kennel block and watch the news and the Today show while I am preparing the dogs’ breakfasts so I leave the TV on and Hellyeah Bolt watches it all day."
While Hellyeah Bolt looks well placed in Saturday’s fourth and fifth grade event, the night’s standout bet is unquestionably Dyna Geldof, in the fifth grade Betfair Opener (520m).
The Steven Collins-trained speedster staged an epic head-and-head duel with Darren McDonald’s star Dark Warrior from the first bend to the home turn at his Wentworth Park debut last week, finally going down by two-and-a-half lengths.
But with the benefit of the run on the track and after again drawing box one, it is hard to find a danger to Dyna Geldof on Saturday night.
Collins should also land the 720m Betfair Cup with Dyna Willow, who has box six but has won four of her eight starts wearing the green rug.
Tasmania’s Bell Haven set the race record of 42.33 in last year’s Betfair Cup but Dyna Willow clocked 42.04 in her heat win last Saturday night and has recorded a near track record 41.92 at Wentworth Park.
My value bet on Saturday is the ideally boxed Rained, (now there’s a topical tip) in the Rapidvite Final.
Rained was a certainty beaten when second from an unsuitable box eight in his heat last Monday night and trainer Peter McCann is delighted at drawing box one with his charge on Saturday night.
Best Bet: Dyna Geldof (Race 1)
Best Value: Rained (Race 6)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 2, 8, 1
Race 6 – 1, 3, 4
Race 7 – 1, 3, 7
Race 8 – 6, 1
$20 for 37.03%
