Wild Soul has earned both the accolade of one of the country’s most in-form greyhounds and his trainer’s affections in recent months, but now it’s down to Nationals business.
The impressive campaigner goes in the second heat of the SA Sprint series OVER 515m on Thursday night having chalked up four consecutive wins and a remarkable 16 consecutive placings.
He starts from box four but faces tough opposition in his heat from the likes of Set the Scene and Galilee Spirit.
Trainer Kim Johnstone is confident her charge can take a first step towards the WA finals.
“He is very confident OVER the 515m,” Johnstone said. “I think if he’d drawn boxes one or two, he would be a near-certainty.
“He is my best mate so I am so pleased he is running well.
“I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Wild Soul’s improvement started when he moved up to the 600m distance back in May.
His success since then has taken his career record to a highly respectable 19 wins and 15 placings from 46 starts.
“Stepping up to 600m helped his 500m,” Johnstone, whose grandfather Brian is a former Angle Park club chairman, said. “He is more confident going into the first turn.
“He is probably not quick enough to compete in Group races at the top level, but at Adelaide I think he will do himself proud.”
Two SA Nationals Distance (731m) heats and three Sprint heats are being held at Angle Park on Thursday.
Token Mclaren (heat one) and Psychotic Gold, who goes into the second heat in flying form, look the ones to watch OVER the longer distance.
Other greyhounds to watch in the Sprint heats include Cairnlea Layla in heat one and Punishment (heat three).
Action starts at 7.11pm.
Meanwhile, Albion Park hosts two Distance (710m) and three Sprint (520m) heats on Thursday night.
Wag Tail has a distance best of 41.69 and is one to watch from box two in the first of the Distance heats.
Mullaway (box four) has hit decent form since Stepping up in distance and is worth considering in the second Distance heat.
Tony Brett’s trio Flash Reality, Placid Planet and Exhibitionist will all likely be hard to stop in their respective Sprint heats.
Albion Park racing starts at 6.44pm.
The top performers will progress to next week’s Queensland and SA finals, with the winners representing their states at the OVERall Cannington finals on Saturday, August 23.
For Albion Park fields, form and expert tips, click here.
For Angle Park fields, form and expert tips, click here.
