Patience was the name of the game for Andrew MCLAREN with Pastrana and he should be rewarded once again at Mandurah on Saturday night.
The greyhound goes from box one in the eighth race aiming to continue his superb record over the 490m distance at Mandurah.
Since heading west from his native Tasmania earlier this year, the son of Makeshift and Next Top Model has won five out of six races over this trip.
MCLAREN admitted he had been surprised by Pastrana’s great form so far but thinks his greyhound can triumph again here.
“When he came here he didn’t seem that interested in racing,” he said. “I had to do bit of work with him.
“When he ran 27.40 on his second trial, I thought ‘hey, we might have something here’.
“I think he’s a greyhound who suits the one track and distance. Mandurah just seems to suit him.
“This is a very solid field but you never turn down the one box and with this draw I think he has a chance.”
Pastrana scored his latest victory last Friday at Mandurah, coming home in 27.77 for a seventh triumph in 16 starts.
Click here to watch Pastrana’s latest win.
He only won two of his nine races in Tasmania but has been a revelation under MCLAREN’s tutelage.
“Sometimes you have to be patient,” he said. “You have to be a psychiatrist as well as a trainer and work out what’s going on in their heads.
“As well as being happy and healthy, the greyhound must want to be there (to race). You really have to work on that.
“When you put that work in and then get decent results, it’s an absolute joy.”
In other Mandurah action, Blinker’s On (box six) looks likely to make it three wins from three in race four.
The former Victorian has been in super form since heading west to Paul Stuart’s kennels and looks too strong for the rest here.
Flying Bingle Monelli has won six of his last seven and should win again in race six.
Starlight Jack (race seven) and Starboost in race 10 should also be too good for their respective fields.
Jabba Da Pup could also provide some decent value from box five in race three.
He can be inconsistent but has run some great races over the 490m at Mandurah and is solid from the squeeze box.
Provincial Bear (box four) faces a tough field in race five but looks another tempting value chance.
He has tested likely favourite Expect A Guess before and has been running well without a lot of luck over the last month.
For Mandurah Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
