Western Australia’s leading trainer Linda Britton has decided not to take on the nation’s best in the Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg series with superstar sprinter Zelemar Fever and instead has targeted the speedy black greyhound towards the heats of the Lew Dorsa Memorial (530m) at Cannington this Saturday.
It is by no means an easy kill, but Zelemar Fever will enter heat two as the greyhound to beat especially after she gave an emphatic reminder of her ability last week.
Winless in four starts following her Temlee victory, Zelemar Fever was back to her imperious best last week as she smoked a Free To All field by over seven lengths in an ultra-quick 30.08.
She will clash with old nemesis On Coin, who makes a welcome return to the track following a lengthy injury enforced lay-off after a fall in Januray.
Although he has the benefit of an inside alley and his solo trial on Monday was solid, On Coin may need a run or two to get back to his top.
In heat one (race 4) Hillbilly Flash and Star Recall will vie for favouritism.
The talented pair, both Perth Cup finalists, are each building good records although Hillbilly Flash has the advantage of a better draw in this encounter.
From his inside trap, the veteran Gomes can be a fly in the ointment if he happens to find the lead.
Astronomic is drawn to get an upswing on his roller-coaster ride of form out of the rails alley in heat three (race 6).
After stringing together a sequence of four wins from five starts in February and early March the Paul Stuart-trained chaser looked to be revving up his promising but sputtering career for a turbo-charged surge but he has struck an oil slick in his past two attempts.
From the pole, where his record is excellent, Astronomic gets every opportunity to rebound the winner’s circle although he will need to overcome Luba Monelli and Saving Bundles.
Luba Monelli drops back to the 530m after some brilliant results over 642m and some indifferent ones over 715m.
She will be right amongst this despite her wide draw.
Saving Bundles has been placed in nine out of her past ten starts but only one of those efforts has resulted in victory and for a greyhound that has won a Mandurah Cup and been a two-time Perth Cup finalist she has been a somewhat of an underachiever in ‘easier’ races.
The speed battle between kennelmates Gone To Heaven and Te Amo will likely determine the result of heat four (race 7).
The Linda Britton-prepared duo are both consistent lid pingers and are capable taking control of a race early.
Gone To Heaven did exactly that last weekend when she stormed back into form with a brilliant all-the-way run in the Puppy Classic.
Te Amo is a talented racedog and even though she hasn’t saluted in five starts now she’ll have the edge in experience against her younger rival.
Best Bet: Zelemar Fever (Race 5)
Best Value: Egotistical (Race 2)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 2, 4
Race 6 – 1, 3, 7
Race 7 – 3, 4
Race 8 – 1, 2
$20 for 83.33%
