Gun pup Black Bear Lee has done it tough so far but looks ideally drawn to score another win tonight at Bulli.
This year’s Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden winner (pictured, yellow rug) jumps from box one in the Ladbrokes Visa Card Final (race six, 400m) seeking a sixth win in 12 starts.
The son of legendary Brett Lee and Paua Of Love had a terrific win in last week’s heats, coming from way behind to head a field containing the likes of gun pup Reventon and the dangerous Encosta Deplente.
Click here to watch Black Bear Lee’s win at Bulli last week.
This is the first time Black Bear Lee has the red rug in his short career and trainer Ruth Matic thinks it should prove a big help.
“I hope so,” she said. “You saw in the closing stages last week how he dived for the fence and stuck on it.
“He’s never had the one box and only had box two once I think. All his good performances have come from out wide.
“When he missed the start last week, I thought, ‘oh no, what have you done’, but he certainly made up for it.
“He has four wins have been over the 500 so I expected him to be strong at the finish – and he was.”
Black Bear Lee was an early standout, scoring two sub-30 second wins at Wentworth Park in his first three runs and then claiming the $25,000-to-the-winner Magic Maiden (520m).
Injuries have slightly held him back since then but last week’s 22.54 win indicated he is back to his best.
Black Bear Lee is the pick here but both Ritza Roman (box four) and Encosta Deplente in box five cannot be ruled out.
Matic is planning to take Black Bear Lee back to Wentworth Park shortly and still has high hopes for him.
“To start with he looked the perfect greyhound,” she said.
“He’s so lovely and has the best temperament. He can be in race ten and you have to wake him up.
“He’s had some minor niggling injuries but I think we’ve got him right now.
“Anything can happen in racing but he’s got his box here to win.”
Tanks Punk has been flying at Richmond recently and looks the pick in race seven.
Another handy newcomer from Jim Coyle’s kennel, Your Shout Punk (box four), looks the standout in race two.
Jaxon Rulz (box three) could provide some value in a very competitive eighth race.
Jennifer Brown’s greyhound is solid enough, has a decent record at Bulli and has been drawn inside most of her likely rivals here.
For Bulli Friday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
