Evil Punk’s best winning time at Wentworth Park is 29.70 but trainer Jimmy Coyle believes his great warrior can go faster given a clear run in Saturday night’s Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint Final (520m) at Wentworth Park.
Evil Punk (pictured, yellow rug) rattled home to beat all but Tommy Brislane in last Friday night’s 29.64 heat and Coyle has revealed that his greyhound has trialled faster at the Glebe track.
“He has gone as quick as 29.58 in a trial and although that was a good while back he is still racing well,’’ Coyle said.
“I was rapt in Evil Punk’s second last week because he was probably short of one hard run.
“He had to be scratched from his previous engagement when he came down with a mild case of acidosis and while he was fit enough last week the hard run will do him the world of good.
“Evil Punk has been in half a dozen big finals without winning one but has earned over $85,000 prize-money.
“He deserves to win a major event and is well drawn in box three on Saturday.
“But it isn’t going to be easy as I was in awe of Victorian dog Allen Deed’s performance when he ran fastest time of 29.43 in the heats.
“He was last to leave the boxes but his power over the final 250 metres was unbelievable.
“In my dog’s favour is that Allen Deed goes from box eight last week to box four in the final.’’
Tommy Brislane’s 5.31 was the fastest first split of the Spring Sprint heats and if he can reproduce those figures the Steve White-trained greyhound is going to take catching on Saturday night.
Although Tommy Brislane exited box three to win the Sportingbet Megastar at Dapto and last Saturday night’s Bob Payne heat he will have no trouble handling box six.
Early in his career Tommy Brislane was actually better suited drawn wide and trainer Steve White breathed a sigh of relief at this week’s box draw when Hayden Hair, better known as a 720m dog, drew outside his charge in box seven.
Trainer Anthony Azzopardi has given Remote Control a week of box practice in an effort to mend the greyhound’s starting habits ahead of Saturday night’s first heat of the Macro Meats Gourmet Game Sprint.
Remote Control made his debut for Anthony at Wentworth Park last Saturday night but after a mediocre getaway the dog veered off the track at the first turn before making up ground to finish fourth.
Remote Control is ideally positioned in box eight on Saturday night as he is undefeated in three starts wearing the pink rug and posted a slick 29.97 from the outside draw at Wentworth Park in February.
“My wife Kylie and I purchased Remote Control after he finished second at Wentworth Park on August 8,’’ Azzopardi said.
“He is a fast dog but his box manners have always been his problem.
“I have worked on him non-stop this week in an effort to make him begin a bit better on Saturday night because if he steps away cleanly he should win considering he has drawn his favourite box.’’
Another greyhound suited by an outside draw on Saturday night at Wentworth Park is the Mario Abela-trained Hilda’s Boy in heat two of the Macro Meats Sprint.
The dog scored a determined win from box seven in the Bankstown City Cup final at Potts Park on September 6.
“Hilda’s Boy has always looked more comfortable when racing on the outside of his opponents," Abesa said.
“That showed when he kept punching up on the outside of the early leader in the Cup.’’
Hilda’s Boy produced his best Wentworth Park performance a fortnight later when he made the pace to the home turn before finishing second to Zipping Weston in 29.81.
“I was pleased with that run because Hilda’s Boy clocked 29.90 getting beaten,’’ Abela said.
“In one of his first hit-outs at Wenty Hilda’s Boy hand-slipped from post-to-post in 24.27 but despite that has not been able to win in seven races at the track.
“His second behind Zipping Weston indicates he may have turned the corner at Wenty at last.’’
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields and form, click here.
Best Bet: Miss Sueko (Race 7)
Best Value: Remote Control (Race 1)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 4, 7, 1
Race 6 – 1, 7
Race 7 – 1, 7
Race 8 – 6, 3, 8
$20 for 55.55%
