Plenty is on the line for John Buttsworth and Academy Award at Grafton on Friday.
The greyhound goes from box seven in the Gillespie Plumbing Sprinters Cup Final (407m) aiming to chalk up a fourth win from four starts the club’s winter carnival.
Another good performance will see Academy Award claim the sought-after Greyhound of the Carnival title.
Bathurst-based Buttsworth, who is among the frontrunners for the 2014 Trainer of the Carnival title, said he was looking forward
“He is the leading greyhound in the carnival and if he wins this, he will be top.
“It’s a hard race but I think he’s got a chance.”
Academy Award certainly looks the one to stop after chalking up three consecutive wins at the carnival, taking his career record to seven wins from 14 starts.
He endured a rocky early start to his career but dropping back to 307m at Bathurst earlier this year did the trick.
Since then he’s won five from seven starts and is one of the most in-form greyhounds at this level.
“I think the one and two dogs (Terton Flyer and Vayetra) will be hard to beat,” Buttsworth said.
“He’s not been badly boxed in the seven.
“If he can find the lead then he will be tough to stop.”
Today is the final meeting of the 2014 carnival, which has featured several races over the last couple for weeks and attracted trainers from across the eastern states.
Buttsworth (66) has been attending the Grafton carnival for about 40 years and said the arduous 10-hour drive from the Central West was worth it.
“I’m talking to you here in my shirt and shorts,” he said. “I wouldn’t be doing that in Bathurst right now.
“The weather here is great and so are the people.”
Buttsworth believes his greyhound is definitely one for provincial greyhound racing followers to keep an eye on.
“I think he will go to 500m with a little bit of work,” he said.
“I don’t think he’s a Group-level dog but he will win a few.
“We’ll probably take him to places like Bulli and see how he goes there.
“I think we’ll have some fun with him.”
The race is eight of 12 on the card at Grafton, with action under way at 12.14pm.
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