Hooksy, who broke the race record with a 29.36 win in the Macro Meats New Sensation final at Wentworth Park on April 19, has trialled brilliantly in preparation for his return to Sydney on Saturday night.
The Victorian star (pictured), unbeaten in three starts at the track, has box five in heat five of the Rapidvite Peter Mosman Classic.
Jimmy Auld, whose wife Tanya trains the champion sprinter, is hopeful of another strong display from his battle-hardened charge.
“Hooksy got hurt and pulled up sore after finishing sixth at Sandown on May 8," Auld said.
“He was galloped on and when he hurt his hip it took us 10 days to get him right.
“We even considered pulling him out of the Peter Mosman because he only had a couple of sprints up our straight in mid-May.
“But then we trialled him over 390 metres at Shepparton and he ran .08 outside the track record.
“When we heard there would only be six heats we decided to come to Sydney again, because barring really bad luck he should have no trouble qualifying for the semi-finals.
“Whatever he does on Saturday night Hooksy should improve on in the next round.’’
Aurora Girl has a near perfect draw in heat four of the Peter Mosman, but Ross Burton, whose wife Marie trains the slick sprinter, doubts she can beat the JODIE Lord-trained Cawbourne Whip.
Notoriously slow beginner Bessy Boo has box one, Aurora Girl has two and Cawbourne Whip has drawn box three.
Aurora Girl had box one when she ran down None Of Them to win at Wentworth Park on May 24 in 29.72.
She produced an even better run when she overcame a slow start from box seven and early trouble to finish third to Handy Nandy six nights later.
“Aurora Girl is better placed near the rails than she was last week and is the fastest greyhound in our 12 dog kennel,’’ Burton said.
“But on sectional and run home times I can’t see how we can beat Cawbourne Whip on Saturday night.
“When their owner Ray Gold sent us Aurora Girl and Asia’s Babe, who has box two in the second Peter Mosman heat, he said Asia’s Babe had the better form.
“But Asia’s Babe gets a bit wide and if you race wide at Wentworth Park you finish up in no man’s land so Aurora Girl, who rails well, has the better record there.’’
Trainer Steve White believes Tommy Brislane’s prospects in the sixth Peter Mosman heat hinge entirely on how the dog begins.
Tommy Brislane jumped brilliantly to lead all the way in 29.74sec at Wentworth Park last Saturday night and is chasing his fourth win in five starts at the Glebe track this week.
“He is not badly boxed because I’m told Wynburn Wizard, the Tasmanian dog in box two, is a bit slow early," White said.
“But there are big raps on Victorian dog Deadly Vane, who has box eight, so Tommy Brislane is going to have to begin like he did last week to have a chance of getting the cash.’’
Saturday’s star bet is in one of the minor races with the Mark Gatt-trained Ritza Raider ideally positioned in box eight in the opening event, the Sanchsplitz CJ Open Stakes.
Ritza Raider has won four races at Wentworth Park so is well placed in this fourth and fifth grade event while he has won three of his four assignments wearing the pink rug.
And this week the presence of speedy, keen railing duo Woods and Minza Red One, in boxes six and seven respectively, should ensure Ritza Raider gets a dream run down the outside of the field in the charge to the first corner.
For Wentworth Park fields and form, click here.
Best Bet: Ritza Raider (Race 1).
Best Value: Aurora Girl (Race 6).
Quaddie race 5 – 3, 5
Race 6 – 2, 3, 5
Race 7 – 5, 1
Race 8 – 2, 3, 4, 8
$20 for 41.66%
