VERSATILE Twist Me Over, who goes in the Ladbrokes Bitches Only Final (520m) at Wentworth Park tonight, is fast becoming a sprinter to watch.
The chaser, who jumps from box two, could always post early splits equal to trainer Garry Edwards’ former champion bitches More Space and Double Twist.
But until recently Twist Me Over was “Really weak’’ according to her trainer.
“She has become stronger without losing her early zip, and has now won six from 12 races," Edwards said.
“The fastest first splits More Space and Double Twist clocked at Wentworth Park were 5.35 and Twist Me Over clocked 5.36 when she won her Ladbrokes heat last Monday.
“The great thing about her is that while 30.26 is her fastest overall time at Wenty, she pings the lid from any box.’’
Edwards trains Twist Me Over, a younger half sister to his retired champ and now mum Double Twist, for Rocco Corsaro, proprietor of the Berry Bakery.
“Rocco deserves a change of luck with his greyhounds because I trained Paua Of Will to win a heat and final at Dapto for him but that greyhound broke down after only four starts,’’ Edwards said.
“Only downside training for Rocco is that I’m putting on weight because every time I drive past his bakery I stop off and grab a couple of pies!’’
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The toughest opponent for Twist Me Over for tonight’s Wentworth Park final should be fastest heat winner My Lady Day, trained by 76-year-old Domenic “Mick’’ Traino.
Traino bred My Lady Day from the former stayer Arica Dora, who he bought as a brood bitch after her racing career concluded.
“Arica Dora has had three litters to race and all have won,’’ Traino said.
The former singing waiter and council worker, who has always trained as a hobby from the Matraville house he built 48 years ago, breathed a sigh of relief when My Lady Day drew box three tonight.
“When she draws out wide you can forget her,’’ Traino said.
“Before winning her heat from box two, she finished sixth after drawing box eight at Wentworth Park on February 16 and being flattened while trying to cross to the rails.
“She does a left hand turn at the start and when she draws wide she gets belted getting to the rails because that is the only way she wants to go.’’
While My Lady Day’s best of the night Ladbrokes heat time of 29.95 surprised most racegoers, Traino pointed out she had previously trialled 30.10, 30.04 and then 30 flat at the Glebe track.
Traino, a huge fan of jazz and blues music, named My Lady Day after his favourite singer Billie Holiday, who died in 1959 but was known as 'Lady Day’ to her musical partner Lester Young.
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Valaskan Gold cracked a fibula at her first start but bounced back two months later for an impressive 400m win at Maitland on Thursday for trainer Gary Ernst.
The chaser bungled the start but that mishap proved a blessing, according to her trainer.
“Les Hudson, who had the dog in box eight, told me Before the race his greyhound did a left hand turn at the start," Ernst said. "He reckoned the best thing my chaser could do was to miss the kick.
“His prediction was spot on because when Les’s dog veered left and Gold">Valaskan Gold missed the jump she got a dream run down the outside of the field.’’
Ernst has high hopes for Gold">Valaskan Gold but says the best dog he has trained, Orphan Point, was a “once in a lifetime greyhound.’’
He said: “Orphan Point won 16 races at Wentworth Park and is easily the best I have trained in my 40 years in the sport.
“But Gold">Valaskan Gold is handy and is the first greyhound owned by Valerie Brewster, who received her as a gift from her son David.
“David has been enjoying good success as an owner with Karma Connie and Atrax Robustus, which are trained by Connie and Peter Honnery.’’
