Ted Medhurst faces another arduous trip with Dark Vito for this Saturday’s Group 1 National Derby Final (520m) but reckons the box draw has given his chaser a chance of success.
The Tasmanian sprinter and recent Group 3 Devonport Cup winner jumps from box two in the decider at Wentworth Park.
Medhurst’s greyhound has already enjoyed two solid runs in the series, qualifying for the final with an improved 29.99 run in last Saturday’s semi-finals.
He is pricing $9 with Sportsbet and trainer Medhurst said Dark Vito (pictured, white rug) was a decent roughie for the $75,000 decider.
“He’s got a good draw,” he said.
“I thought he would be one of the outsiders but the draw has given us hope.
“He didn’t travel that well the first couple of times (he left Tasmania) but he has got better in that regard. I thought both his runs so far were decent as well.
“If you had $10 on him to place I think that would be good value.”
The son of Collision x Carlita Bale has compiled a decent racing record of 10 wins and six placings from 21 starts so far.
He has two wins from four starts jumping from box two and ran excellently to claim the Devonport Cup.
Medhurst said all three semi-final winners – Bad Boy Sniper (box four, $3.20), Fernando Bale (box seven, $4) and Topper Road (box eight, $6) – were the ones to beat in what he described as an “outstanding” field.
“I think the depth of the field is wonderful,” he said.
“For Dark Vito to be a winning chance, he’s got to begin well.
“He has beautiful habits and he does have that early pace. With the good draw he has a chance.”
Dark Vito has also drawn inside another tough contender, box 's three's Winsome Prince ($11).
Medhurst said Vito">Dark Vito would fly up on Friday ahead of the race, staying at trainer CHRIS Nutt’s south-west Sydney property.
Stalwart trainer Medhurst, who enjoyed plenty of success in 2014 with dual Group 1 winner and recently retired Buckle Up Wes, said it was a tough but enjoyable journey for the final.
“Logistically it’s a nightmare (to travel),” he said. “You are organising a day ahead and then when you get home you have all the work you left behind waiting for you.
“Travelling for us is so expensive. We only do it unless it is viable and worth it with our dogs.
“I’m not sure (Vito">Dark Vito) is up to Wes’s standard but he’s a good chaser.”
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
National Derby Final box draw: 1. Lektra Outlaw 2. Vito">Dark Vito 3. Winsome Prince 4. Bad Boy Sniper 5. Dyna Tiber 6. Zipping Carter 7. Fernando Bale 8. Topper Road. Reserves: Winsome Jacko, Whittaker.
Prices quoted correct at time of writing.
