Melbourne hobby trainer Phil Smith is in line to score the biggest win of his career with To The Galo’s in Tuesday afternoon’s Goulburn Workers Club Cup (440m).
To The Galo’s (pictured) is likely to start favourite for the feature race after his track record win in a heat of the cup last week.
That 24.43 run was his third victory in his past four starts and the son of El Galo will now jump from box six in Tuesday’s Cup, with Smith confident of a bold showing.
“I would’ve preferred him drawn on the outside, but this is the next best draw,” Smith said.
“He’ll need to do everything right to win, but he's putting it all together at the moment and on current form he's a chance.
“He’s the happiest greyhound I’ve ever had - he loves his racing and his bush walks – so it would be lovely to see him win.”
Last week's win was a hard-earned victory for Smith, who made the arduous 1300-kilometre round trip from his Melbourne base to Goulburn after making a late decision to enter his greyhound the series.
Winning the cup would be a notable success for Smith, who combines mentoring greyhounds with running his own sign writing business and has been “hooked” on the sport since a child.
“I was about eight when I attended my first meeting,” the married father-of-two said. “I can still remember my Mum telling my Dad off for having me home late from meetings.
“I love working with the greyhounds and the satisfaction you get when they perform on the track.
“The only downside is that it’s very time-consuming. You can’t go for holidays, much to my wife’s displeasure.
“Maybe if we win the cup, I can treat her for once.”
The Goulburn Cup shapes up to be a super contest with all eight finalists having realistic chances of winning.
Local hope and recent Group 1 Vic Peters Classic finalist Black Bear Lee (box four) looked impressive scoring a 24.60 heat win last week.
He has won two and placed twice on five previous starts with the blue rug.
Let It Develop (box five), meanwhile, looks the best chance for Sydney trainer Anthony Azzopardi, whose kennel is in red-hot form at the moment.
In other action at Goulburn, Milko's Magic (box seven) looks the pick in the high-quality Goulburn Mulwaree Council Final (race six, 350m).
The short course star has been a super brilliant performer for the flying NSW Central West Braddon kennel, having won 10 of his last 13 starts.
He ran a blistering 19.75 last week and has four wins from four starts with the black rug.
For Goulburn Tuesday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
