Update: The semi-finals will now take place this Saturday as Monday's Nowra">Nowra meeting was postponed due to bad weather. The final will now take place on Monday, May 4.
Fortune has not smiled much on Black Bear Lee so far in his impressive career but trainer Ruth Matic believes that should not hamper his challenge in the Group 3 Classicbet Puppy Classic (520m) semi-final at Nowra today.
The recent Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden winner goes in search of the second big title of his fledgling career when he jumps from box four in the third of three semis of the $25,000-to-the-winner series (race six).
Black Bear Lee finished second in last week’s heat behind Fantastic Spiral, but still produced a super 29.89 effort behind the winner to progress as runner-up.
He has yet to draw any of the inside boxes in his five career runs so far and Matic is hoping her “desperate railer” will eventually draw an inside box.
“I’m just waiting to see what he could do when he gets the inside,” she said with a grin. “Imagine how he could go.
“It will be very wet down there by all accounts but he is strong enough to handle it.
“I’m reasonably confident he can get through here, even with the draw.
“I just hope he can make the final and finally draw an inside box.”
Black Bear Lee has four wins from five starts, including the $25,000-to-the-winner Magic Maiden.
The son of Brett Lee x Paua To Love is a fast starter and looks to have a strong engine as well.
Impressive siblings Fantastic Spiral and Fantastic Sid both look ideally drawn in box one to win the first and second heats respectively.
They have 20 victories between them already and look the series standouts but Matic thinks her charge could beat them in the potential final.
“If Black Bear Lee gets the inside draw then it’s possible,” she said.
“I saw Fantastic Sid at Goulburn a few times and I thought he was marginally the pacier of the two.
“I’m not sure how much improvement Fantastic Spiral has in him after his run last week, but they are both quality greyhounds.”
Recent Group 3 New Sensation winner Lord Gee jumps from box six in the first heat and is one to watch.
Matic said she would target a run a Bulli next month for her impressive charge and believes he could have a super future.
“I think he could be as good as anything I have had,” she said.
“There’s nothing about the dog you can fault. You go to get him out the car for the race and he is sound asleep.
“He is just a classic dog to train.”
The final of the Classicbet Puppy Classic Series is this Saturday.
For Nowra Monday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
