Ray Smith is confident Brad Hill Billy can rebound from an unsuccessful Victorian campaign with a win in a Heat of the Goulburn Workers Club Cup (440m) this afternoon.
Brad Hill Billy, who took out this year’s Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint, jumps from box two in the third of four Heats of the $10,000-to-the-winner series.
He is returning to NSW after a four-race stint in Victoria, where his best result was a third place in the four greyhound Shootout over the 515m at Sandown Park.
This afternoon will be Brad Hill Billy’s debut at Goulburn, but despite his inexperience Smith is confident of a bold showing from his greyhound.
He has a super record from box two, with three wins and two minor placings wearing the checks and looks the class act of this field.
“He has trialled well at Goulburn,” Smith said.
“This is a bit of a freshener for him ahead of the Group 3 Christmas Gift (next month), but it’s still a good race.
“I’ve no problem with his fitness and he is ready to go.”
A victory in this year’s Goulburn Cup would cap off a great year for Smith and Brad Hill Billy and Smith.
As well as capturing the Bob Payne Spring Sprint, the former Tasmanian-based greyhound has also scored seven wins at Wentworth Park and registered a track record at Unibet Gardens.
Now his career record stands at 15 wins and 19 minor placings from 44 starts.
“It was a little disappointing that he didn’t do better down in Victoria,” Smith said. “When you meet that calibre of greyhounds, though, it’s very tough.
“We’ve had a ball this year. It’s been a lot of travelling, but I just look at (travelling to races) as a day out.
“I had no expectations of him when he came from Tasmania, so to see him go so well has been a real thrill. You always hope to have a greyhound as special as him, so when you do it’s wonderful.
"It makes everything worthwhile."
Heat one of the Goulburn Cup looks a shootout between hot local Black Bear Lee (box two, pictured with red rug) and Let It Develop (box seven), one of the stars of Anthony Azzopardi’s kennel.
Nangar Flash (box three), part of a strong Collision/Flash Fancy litter for Dennis Barnes, has won three of his last four and looks the pick in Heat two.
Kazmic’s Revenge (box five) has saluted four times from six trips to Goulburn and looks the pick in Heat four.
Best roughie chance for the series looks like Anne Hector’s Spritely Dancer, who has box five in the first Heat.
A winner of the recent Group 3 Nowra Spring Puppy Classic, Spritely Dancer has raced well at Wentworth Park recently and has won twice in four previous visits at Goulburn.
For Goulburn Tuesday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
