Paul Stuart rates Tureaud as the best of his four runners in Saturday night’s Group 2 Greyhounds WA All Stars Sprint (490m) at Mandurah.
Stuart’s kennel stars dominate the decider, with his greyhounds Tureaud (box one), Romeo’s Comet (box four), Astrophysic (box seven) and Tiggerlong Await (box eight) featuring for the gun trainer.
All four look strong hopes in what is a cracking version of the $40,000-to-the-winner race.
It is hard to separate Stuart’s hopefuls but the man himself believes Tureaud is the one to back.
“If he does things right, you’ve got to go with Tureaud,” Stuart said.
“He’s not desperate for the fence but I’m hoping he can come up well and can punch up.
“He’s had some niggling injuries but he ran beautifully last week (and) I think he’s back to his best now.”
Tureaud finished second behind Joker’s Wild in last week’s heats but should benefit from that run.
The son of Kinloch Brae and Starlight Delly was a star early on his career and has run 27.22 at Mandurah.
Although he has struggled to maintain that early form, he has the respectable record of 13 wins and four minor placings from 25 starts.
The draw should also suit as he has won two of his three previous starts with the red rug.
Kennelmate Astrophysic has the brilliant strike rate of 34 wins and eight minor placings from 47 starts and won last week in 27.60.
He also has a remarkable record from box seven, with six victories and two minor placings wearing the black rug.
Romeo’s Comet (box four) possesses 22 wins from 54 starts and is in hot form with three straight wins.
He has only won once in nine previous starts wearing the blue rug, though, but looks at his best distance.
Tiggerlong Await’s form has been improving in recent weeks and he won here last week in 27.58.
He has only scored one win in five previous starts from box eight but Stuart said he could not be discounted.
“He has the ability to win,” Stuart said. “Last week he came out beautifully.
“I’m hoping he can run out with Astrophysic who will pull him across into contention.
“I’m happy with the wide draw for Astrophysic. He can find his feet from there and not be pressured.
“Romeo’s Comet’s box draw has done him no favours. He has a bit of confidence about him, but realistically I’d say he is a placing chance.
“I don’t think anyone in the field has any great advantage from the draw, but of mine I have to go with Tureaud.”
Of the rest, the Nick Minutillo-trained Nero Bolt (box five) looks the biggest danger to Stuart’s hopefuls.
The recent Group 1 National Sprint finalist bounced back to best form with the fastest run of last week’s heats (27.46).
He has won seven of his last 10 visits here but has not won from three previous starts wearing the yellow rug.
The final is race six on the card and goes at 11.57pm ADST (8.57pm local time).
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Group 2 Greyhounds WA All Stars Sprint Box Draw (Sportsbet Fixed Odds Prices In Brackets) : 1. Tureaud ($2.30) 2. Mike The Knight ($4.50) 3. Peloton Bale ($26) 4. Romeo’s Comet ($8.50) 5. Nero Bolt ($11) 6. Joker’s Wild ($17) 7. Astrophysic ($4.80) 8. Tiggerlong Await ($7). 1R: Stangafied ($15), 2R: Deadly Boy ($15).
Prices correct at the time of writing.
