Sheryl Sutton, an employee of Buckle Up Wes’ original owners, is poised to reap a $62,500 windfall if the Tasmanian greyhound wins Saturday night’s 25th running of the Group 1 Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg.
The Ted Medhurst-trained Buckle Up Wes (pictured) is all the rage for the $250,000 to the winner Wentworth Park final after drawing the coveTed rails box.
"Clients of mine, Gary and Robyn Johnson, who own a stack of greyhounds, race Buckle Up Wes," Ted said.
"They live on the north-west coast of Tasmania and own a large property where they farm vegetables and run cattle.
"Sheryl Sutton is one of the Gary and Robyn’s employees and while I’m not sure why, they gave her a share in Buckle Up Wes."
Ted Medhurst is confident Buckle Up Wes will not succumb to box one’s reputation at Wentworth Park of frequently causing fast beginners to miss the jump.
"Buckle Up Wes is a reliable beginner and the only time I can recall him missing the kick in his past 15 starts was in the Devonport Cup final," Ted said.
"On the only occasion the dog has had box one at Wentworth Park he came out running so I can’t see why he wouldn’t do so again.
"He pulled up well after his semi-final and has been free galloping up my private straight track this week.
"It’s the dog’s normal routine because Buckle Up Wes doesn’t know it’s the Golden Easter Egg, to him it will be just another race."
Melbourne’s champion twin trainers George and Tom Dailly will become the first to win back-to-back Golden Easter Eggs if one of their three finalists is successful.
They won the 2013 final with Grigorieva Bale and will be represenTed on Saturday night by Ollie Bale, box three, Jordan Allen (seven) and Hawk Alone (eight).
In this preview last week, Tom nominaTed Ollie Bale as the best of their seven semi-finalists and that dog led all the way to win by seven lengths at $6.60.
Tom has again plumped for Ollie Bale as his top hope and in a pertinent statement he said he rates the dog the equal of Grigorieva Bale, last year’s winner.
"Actually Ollie Bale probably has a bit more early dash than Grigorieva Bale had," Tom said.
"Ollie Bale won his Easter Egg heat and semi from box three so looks well drawn from the same box in the final.
"Our two other qualifiers, Jordan Allen and Hawk Alone, have not drawn well."
With six of the eight finalists from interstate, NSW hopes rest with Magic Display, box five, and Evil Punk, six.
Magic Display’s trainer Evelyn Harris did not want box one and was hoping for three but was not too perturbed when her front runner drew five.
Evil Punk’s trainer Jimmy Coyle took box six in his stride.
"That’s the way this dog’s luck has always been but he is still in there with a chance."
After being runner-up in the National Derby, Richmond Derby and The Collerson, Evil Punk deserves to win a big race, but his draw has provided him with a mountainous task.
