Lillycette Looks Association Cup Bolter

Super stayer Space Star will be tough to beat in the Group 1 Association Cup (720m) but Ted Medhurst believes his up-and-coming hope Lillycette can make an impact.

Three heats of the $75,000-to-the-winner race take place at Wentworth Park this Saturday with interstate greyhounds expected to dominate.

Space Star (pictured) leads the roster as Australia’s best current stayer and jumps from box six in the third heat aiming to continue his superb year.

Ted Medhurst, Tasmania’s leading trainer, has the up-and-coming Lillycette in box four in heat one.

Medhurst’s champion greyhound Bell Haven won the 2012 Sydney Cup and smashed the race record in the 2012 Summer Cup at Wentworth Park.

Lillycette may not be quite up to that standard yet but Medhurst believes she should adapt well to Wentworth Park.

"While she has not had a lot of long distance racing Lillycette ran fast time winning over 720m at Launceston on March 16 and was impressive winning a 725m race at The Meadows five nights later," Medhurst said.

“Originally I thought she was too brilliant a sprinter to be a true stayer because she won the Hobart Laurels and beat a hot field by a dozen lengths over 580m at Devonport.

“She has not seen Wenty but that shouldn’t worry her because she is a front running stayer who should get on the bunny and usually gets two or three dogs off the fence.’’

The one to beat in the series is Space Star, who has enjoyed a golden few months on the track.

Robbie Britton’s greyhound won three Group races in a matter of weeks but has not been sighted since finishing third in the Group 1 Superstayers earlier  this month.

Despite that setback, he remains the clear standout here.

Lady Toy, a sizzling 41.85 first up Wentworth Park 720m winner last week is tipped to take out heat two of the Cup but while Space Star will be hot favourite in heat three he may not have things his own way.

Opec Bale is ideally placed in box one, Luna Jinx trialled a smart 41.95 at Wentworth Park last week and SA-trained Psychotic Gold is reported to have broken 30 seconds in a 520m sprint trial at Wentworth Park.

Darryl Chapman’s in-form Tuavasa Shek looks the best NSW hope and jumps from box one in the first heat.

Tuavasa Shek has won six of his last seven, including a fine 42.53 triumph at Wentworth Park last month.

Queenslander Mullaway, who broke the 600m track record at Albion Park last week, jumps from box six in the same race.

He ran a 42.62 at Wentworth Park earlier this month and could be a decent roughie for the series.

The Association Cup decider takes place next Saturday s part of the star-studded Golden Easter Egg finals night.

For fields, form and expert picks, click here.