Unbelief ran the second fastest first split before finishing second to Hooksy in last week’s Rapidvite Peter Mosman Classic heats but trainer Troy Donaldson believes she has drawn better in Saturday night’s second Classic semi-final.
“Unbelief had box one last week but I prefer her drawn wide and box seven on Saturday is good,’’ Donaldson said.
“Unbelief has won from box one but she doesn’t like getting pressured by greyhounds on her outside.
“She has a very good record from wide draws and in her favour is that she is usually a fast beginner.
“Having said that, Push It and Zipping Delta, in boxes two and three, are going to be hard to beat..’’
Donaldson retired from the Royal Australian Navy early this year after five years of juggling his naval duties on land and sea with his hobby of training greyhounds.
Unbelief is owned by Luke Crawford, who is also a sailor and won’t be at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
“He is somewhere off the coast of Australia looking for boat people so can’t get to Wentworth Park but he is a really enthusiastic owner,’’ Donaldson said.
Alotta Luck bungled the start when second to Sheara’s Mate in her heat but only needs a clear run to go close to winning Saturday night’s Sportingbet Sprint Series final at Wentworth Park.
In her heat Alotta Luck received a chequered passage going through the catching pen before rattling home to be beaten nearly eight lenghths in 29.96.
Alotta Luck is owned by Lynn Alderson, whose husband Colin trains a big team of thoroughbreds from a large stables complex at Cranbourne.
“Lynn and Colin wanted to breed some greyhounds and bought this bitch as a pup because she is so well bred, being from Wayne Vassallo’s line," trainer Graeme Jose said.
“Marty Hallinan reared Alotta Luck and she is very talented but her box manners often let her down.
“When she was being educated and pre-trained she was a good beginner but for some reason, since she has begun racing, she has blown the start more often than not.
“But she pulled up well after her heat and with a clear run to the first turn will be coming home strongly.’’
All Strung Out ran a great second to Zipping Delta in last week’s Rapidvite Peter Mosman Classic heats but trainer Glenn Rounds admits he is unsure how the dog will handle box six in Saturday night’s third semi-final.
“All Strung Out has only had seven races and has drawn wide just once so I’m still learning about him,’’ Rounds said.
“Last week Asia’s Babe, who has box one in my race on Saturday, had box two and ran out and collided with All Strung Out, who had box three, as soon as the boxes opened.
“I’m hoping All Strung Out can begin cleanly and maybe he will get a nice run down the outside of Cawbourne Whip, who led all the way last week and has box five on Saturday.
“All Strung Out is very strong but he can’t afford to miss the kick because at Wenty it is essential to be up close to the lead at the first corner.’’
Saturday’s best bet looms as Velvet Flame, who has box two in the Adopt A Greyhound Stakes.
The Andrew Bayliss-trained light brindle bitch has won six of her 16 starts but is an inside draw specialist, having won three of her six races from boxes one and two.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert tips, click here.
Best Bet: Velvet Flame (Race 10)
Best Value: Alotta Luck (Race 5)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 6, 5
Race 6 – 3, 8
Race 7 – 7, 3, 2
Race 8 – 6, 5, 3
$20 for 55.55%
