He may still be a loveable “big goose” at heart but Army Surplus may be about strike gold for trainer Adam Wade in Monday’s Ladbrokes Bathurst Gold Cup Final (520m).
The chaser goes into the $14,000-to-the-winner decider as one of the fastest qualifiers in last week’s heats and looks to have drawn well in box seven.
Last week’s run confirmed a return to top form for Army Surplus after he was sidelined earlier in the summer with a toe injury.
He can be devastating on the track but away from racing Wade said his chaser just wanted to play.
“He is still a bit of a goose,” Wade said with a smile.
“He is pretty cam around the tracks and the kennels but other times he’s just a big puppy.
“He is really playful, but when race time comes around he knows what to do.”
Army Surplus certainly knew what to do in last week’s heats, zooming round in an impressive 29.93.
Only the Alan Pringle-trained Smokem Jimmy (29.82) went faster and there looks little to choose between the pair in the decider.
Last week’s triumph took Army Surplus’s solid record to 11 wins and 11 other minor placings from 39 starts.
A son of former Australian Greyhound of the Year El Grand Senor, he has won three and placed on three of his previous seven starts from box seven and with his notable racing sense the draw should not be a problem.
Wade, a successful owner, breeder and trainer of several years whose daughter Emma also trains greyhounds, thinks his greyhound can win.
“I would have loved the inside draw but he can certainly win from the seven,” he said.
“If he jumps clear and gets out in front, they will not catch him.
“I don’t get too excited by these big races but it would be wonderful to win a race like this.
“He will get an extra big dinner afterwards if he wins, that’s for sure.”
Michael Clayton’s classy Are Jai Que (box four) ran a second-place last week and may be stronger for that run.
Suzi Cargo has won her last four races over the shorter distances at Dubbo and looks a strong chance to take out race three.
Kennelmate Susannah Cargo is flying over the short distances and looks a huge chance in race five.
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