Nathan Auld is living the dream as a greyhound trainer and flying Steel">Steel The Best can further boost his fortunes at Maitland on Thursday.
The sprinter, who has won her last four starts, jumps from box six in a cracking Telarah Remember When Final (race eight, 400m).
Steel The Best has been in super form since dropping back to 400m in June and clocked an impressive 22.56 here last week.
Click here to watch Steel The Best’s win at Maitland last week.
Auld said his greyhound’s mid-race speed means she can overcome the tricky box draw here.
“She went close to the second split record there last week,” Auld said. “Once she gets motoring, it is hard to catch her.
“I would’ve loved the inside box, but with her speed she can offset the box draw.
“If she gets round them early and nothing gets in her way, she can win this.”
Steel The Best, half-sister to NSW star Silent Effective, started her racing career with four wins from her first five starts late last year.
She briefly lost form earlier this year but since recovering from a blood problem, the daughter of Magic Sprite and Best Percentage has been unstoppable.
Auld and his father Ian bred Steel The Best and the pair planning to take to take her interstate shortly.
“Her owners live in Melbourne,” Auld said. “It will be great for them to see her race live, especially while she is going well.
“It’s so satisfying when you put the work in and everything starts to click.
“I’m really proud with how she has turned out.”
Auld also has lightly-raced Hidden Effective, a brother of Silent Effective, jumping from box three in race four here.
Hidden Effective has been inconsistent but has improved in recent weeks and looks the best bet here.
Highly regarded Kihael Kaluna has only raced once since making the final of April’s Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden series looks the top pick in race two.
Brett Tooth’s Wussell has four wins in his last five starts and looks the best bet in race six.
Auld has had his public trainer’s licence for about a year and is “loving” his involvement in racing.
“I’m enjoying going to the tracks and meeting new people,” the 37-year-old-said. “That’s the good part about racing.
“Now I’ve had a taste of it, I wouldn’t want to do anything else.
“I’ve had a lot of people give me great advice and my father is a big help as well.
“It’s been a great team effort and it’s going well.”
For Maitland Thursday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
