Smart Missile set a new track record and Miner’s Moss won his seventh race in a row in eight action packed heats of the Group 2 Woy Woy Poultry Black Top (515m) series last Friday night.
The Jason Mackay-trained Smart Missile smashed the track record at Unibet Gardens in his heat with a brilliant 29.19 run – 0.04 faster than the previous mark set by Velocity Storm in 2010.
Coming off a poor run in the NSW Sprint Final, Smart Missile jumped well from box one and was never headed to win by a neck over a gallant Brad Hill Billy.
That made it eight wins and three minor placings in 14 starts for the son of Nitro Burst and Oh See Ya.
He drew box two for the decider, from which he has won both of his previous starts, and is the early favourite to take out this Friday’s Group 2 decider.
Meanwhile, Miner’s Moss made it seven wins in a row with a 29.48 heat win, producing a superb late surge to finish almost two lengths clear.
Trainer Mathew Reid said his veteran greyhound, who qualified for last year’s final and drew box three for the decider, was a decent chance for this Friday’s $36,000-to-the-winner final in which he drew box three.
“He was the fastest heat winner last year and he’s got the inside draw here,” he said.
“I was surprised at the early pace tonight, but thankfully he was able to pick it up.
“Jason’s greyhound (Smart Missile) is obviously the one to beat in the final but you cannot rule mine out.”
The win extended the career record of Miner’s Moss to 41 wins and 23 placings from 97 starts.
A son of Magic Sprite and Bellbird Park, Miner’s Moss was plagued by an intestinal problem earlier in his career but has been virtually unbeatable since early June.
“I’m really happy for him,” Reid (pictured with Miner's Moss and handler John Gorman) said.
“As a trainer, your priority is that your greyhounds are healthy and happy. We’ve worked hard with him and he is repaying us.”
Uno Suzie was the second fastest qualifier, coming home commandingly by more than six lengths in 29.44.
Among the other qualifiers were La Grand Logie, Opus Forte, Avenging Gun and Sheba’s Diva.
Gracie See More also qualified with a 29.74 win to earn trainer Neville Stokes his biggest final for about 40 years.
“Back in the 1970s I won a big final at Gosford, but I haven’t had a Group race since then,” he said.
“You don’t think your greyhound has the class to compete with these, but she goes in and shows you she can.
“She has a big heart and she always keeps coming. That’s what she did tonight. I’m very excited.”
The box draw for the Group 2 Woy Woy Poultry Black Top final is (Sportsbet Fixed Odds prices in brackets): 1. La Grand Logie ($7.50) 2. Smart Missile ($2.20) 3. Miner’s Moss ($4.80) 4. Opus Forte ($7.50) 5. Gracie See More ($51) 6. Uno Suzie ($4.50) 7. Sheba’s Diva ($17) 8. Avenging Gun ($11). 1R: Brad Hill Billy ($2.80), 2R: Explosive Range ($34).
Prices correct at time of writing.
