Double Twist, the joint 2013 NSW Greyhound of the Year, made a successful return to the track at Wentworth Park on Friday night but now trainer Garry Edwards is at a loss to find a suitable race for his group race star.
Double Twist (pictured) injured her back muscle prior to the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder Final in January, a race in which she was expected to start as favourite.
After clocking record time in a post-to-post hand-slip at Dapto on May 16, she scored a tenacious win in a best of the night 29.72 at Wentworth Park on Friday.
But after the race Garry, while relieved his champion had won first-up, commented: "When she was injured for four months she missed several Group 1 races, including the Paws Of Thunder, Golden Easter Egg and Sapphire Crown and now I can’t find anything suitable for her.
"And because Double Twist was whelped on March 30, 2011, she was 48 hours too old for some age classics too."
Double Twist has now won 22 from 39 starts and more than $120,000 in prizemoney.
Meanwhile, Wentworth Park bookmaker Mark Merlino has seen most of the modern era’s greats and does not get carried away but he believes Friday night’s last-to-first 520m fifth grade winner Space Star could be our next top notch stayer.
Trained by Dawn Garrett on the NSW Central Coast, Space Star turned heads at his debut in March, when he broke the 618m track record. He has now won four races from seven career starts, including his last two at Maitland and Wentworth Park.
“Space Star is an absolute aeroplane, he is one of the most exciting prospects I’ve seen in years," Merlino said on Friday.
“Hopefully he doesn’t stay in 520m races for too long because I’m convinced he will be a long distance sensation.
“When he won over 565m at Maitland at his final start before tonight’s race Space Star gave Asha Tanga, who is extremely strong, eight lengths start in the middle stages and beat her by five lengths."
