Elite Minnie was only third fastest heat winner but trainer Paul Betar believes her good box two draw and ability to jump in front and make the pace give her a great chance in Saturday night’s Ladbrokes Sprinters Final at Wentworth Park.
In last Monday night’s heats Elite Minnie faced a lineup crammed with early speed but exploded from box six to lead throughout, going to the line strongly to win in 30.17.
Her first split of 5.48 was fastest of the six heat winners and Betar believes she can be in front again at the crucial first turn.
“She pulled up well after her heat and I am happy with her box two draw in the final,’’ Betar said yesterday.
“I haven’t done a lot with Elite Minnie since her heat win, she has just been free galloping around my two acre property at Winmalee, near Springwood.
“She only needs to begin as well as she did in her heat and she is normally a good box dog.’’
Elite Minnie’s owner John Allain bought the greyhound as a pup for $4000 and has been rewarded for his bold outlay with the greyhound winning five of 15 starts.
Because Launceston Cup winner Brad Hill Billy and No Donuts’ kennelmate Constable Sniff clocked faster heat times than Elite Minnie, Betar’s greyhound has to lead to win.
The same applies to the Ron Bell-trained Lorna Belle in the wentworthpark.com.au Sprint Final.
Lorna Belle led throughout to win her heat last Saturday night in 29.82, second only to Jewel Action’s blistering 29.68 performance.
But Jewel Action has moved from an ideal box one draw to box seven in the final, where she is surrounded by speedsters Little Jill and Cosmo’s King in boxes six and eight respectively.
Since her heat win Lorna Belle has finished third at Wentworth Park on Monday night after colliding when third at the first turn and then coming from fifth on the back straight.
“She didn’t show her customary early zip on Monday and I put that down to the fact she was backing up 48 hours after her Saturday heat win,’’ trainer Ron Bell said yesterday.
“I don’t normally back my dogs up like that but Monday’s race looked too good to pass up.
“Lorna Belle has had a quiet week since Monday night’s hard run, she has just been laying around in the sun.
“That should do her the world of good because she needs to lead again, like she did last Saturday night, if she is to win.
“She has box one which is ideal for her as she veers left at the start.’’
Best bet on Saturday night should be Prince Zesta, who has box one in race 10 while Wagga Cup winner Cosmic Prince can overcome box four at good odds in race four.
Prince Zesta was a disappointing third at his Wentworth Park debut on May 15 but had no luck when fourth there last Saturday night after being checked when in a winning position on the back straight.
Cosmic Prince loves Wentworth Park and the Wagga-trained greyhound has won two of his three starts there, his only defeat being a sixth to Ronray Spirit in a Golden Easter Egg heat on March 21.
Cosmic Prince will relish the drop back to fourth and fifth grade on Saturday night.
Best Bet: Prince Zesta (Race 10)
Best Value: Cosmic Prince (Race 4)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 2, 5
Race 6 – 1, 5, 7
Race 7 – 1, 5, 2
Race 8 – 1, 2, 3
$20 for 37.03%
