Lightest Touch could be a surprise entry in the Group 1 Sportingbet Vic Peters Classic heats on October 18 following his impressive Gosford 515m win last Tuesday night in a brilliant 29.62.
Trainer Jean Lewis was delighted with her Group 3 Laurie Healion Memorial winner’s third victory in five starts and while Lightest Touch has not raced or trialled at Wentworth Park she said the group one age puppy classic was on the radar.
“I’m at Nabiac which is a seven hour round trip from Wentworth Park so I haven’t trialled Lightest Touch there yet,’’ Lewis said.
Jean Lewis bred the champion sprinter Vee Man Vane, who won 28 races in NSW and in Victoria for Jamie Ennis and is now standing at stud in the Northern Rivers district.
“Lightest Touch’s mother Van Girl Vane is a litter sister to Vee Man Vane and as youngsters ability wise there wasn’t much between her and her more famous brother,’’ Jean said. “But Vee Girl Vane had to have an operation to remove a grass seed embedded in her hip and then she suffered a bad toe injury.
“When veterinary advice was that the only hope she had of racing was to have the toe amputated I decided to pull the pin and save her for breeding.
“That has been proved to be the right move as Vee Girl Vane’s earlier litters have produced Kelly’s Hero, who won 18 races and nearly $52,000 prize-money, along with Black Affair, who won four races at Wentworth Park and is now on our property.’’
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A newspaper advertisement inviting prospective buyers to watch an unraced greyhound’s Dapto performance trial raised eyebrows a few weeks back.
The dog, To A Tee, remained unsold but owner-trainer Harry Sarkis is not too concerned as the youngster won first-up over 472m at Bulli on Wednesday night in a brilliant 26.30.
“When To A Tee completed his performance trial he had never seen Dapto and had not been tested over 520m so under the circumstances his time of 30.39 was excellent,’’ Sarkis said.
“It was pouring rain all night at Dapto and Chica Destacada, the National Sprint Championship winner, only recorded 30.19 when trialling at the same meeting.
“After the trial I was offered $40,000 for To A Tee but I want a bit more, although he is still for sale at the right price.
“He has a big future as when he was only 14 months old I trialled him over 280 metres at Wentworth Park and he ran 16.15, good enough to win most Monday night sprints there.’’
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Heats of the Group 1 Sportingbet Vic Peters Classic get under way at Wentworth Park on October 18 but last year’s winner Belfast Johnny has broken down again and been retired to stud.
Belfast Johnny set a race record of 29.63 in his 2013 Vic Peters win but trainer Troy Vella has since endured a heartbreaking run of injuries with the dog.
“His last start was in the Bulli Gold Plate in January but After that he tore a hip support,’’ Vella said.
“I had him back in work but then he dropped a back muscle so that was the finish.
“John Carruthers, of Journey Park Stud, organised for a sperm test for the dog and the results were good so once I complete the paper work Belfast Johnny will go to stud.’’
Fortunately Troy Vella has a trio of smart youngsters out of his former good Wentworth Park bitch Swiper Lulu to fill the void in his Blacktown kennels.
“The first one to race, Cosmic Swiper, won at her first start at Bulli on Wednesday while her litter brother Natura Swiper is just as good,’’ Vella said.
“He was beaten two lengths in his performance trial After coming out six lengths behind the field and is nominated to make his debut at Bulli this Wednesday.
“His unraced sister goes well too while Anthony Azzopardi is also training a couple from this first litter of Swiper Lulu, which are only just over 18 months old.’’
Belfast Johnny finishes with the record of 11 wins from 19 starts.
