Anthony Azzopardi will be looking to continue his kennel’s brilliant run of form in this Saturday's Group 1 National Derby (520m) heats, with the Londonderry trainer entering six runners in the Group 1 National Derby heats at Wentworth Park, including Paws Of Thunder winner Asa Flying Spur.
Five heats of the $75,000-to-the-winner National Derby series, which is open to male greyhounds whelped on or after July 1, 2013, will take place on Saturday night with some of Australia's most promising greyhounds taking part.
Asa Flying Spur has drawn box five in heat one, a week after taking out the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder as a $29.90 outsider. Given his recent run of form, he will likely start much shorter odds for Saturday’s assignment and looks a strong chance to qualify for another Group 1 final.
Kennelmate France Soir, who took out the Group 2 Dapto Puppy Classic last month, jumps from box one in heat two and is looking for his third straight win.
Azzopardi’s other runners in the Derby heats are Il Bacaro (box one, heat three), Asa Hard Knox (box three, heat four), Brilliant Shot (box eight, heat four) and Asa Killa Queen (box three, heat five).
Il Bacaro will line up against the lightly raced Aqua Cheetah (box four), who took out the Bathurst Gold Cup recently at only his fourth career start.
John Ayoub’s greyhound won from this box on debut at the Sydney track in 30.19.
He also clocked 29.90 at Wentworth Park last month in finishing second to Ritza Lenny, who himself is a second reserve in the final heat of the night.
The third National Derby heat is lining up to be the most competitive of the night with Nangar Flame (box three) and Paws Of Thunder placegetter Smart Missile (box six) in contention
Others to watch in the heats include gun Queenslander Leeroy Roller (box two, heat four), who ran 29.92 at Wentworth Park in December.
Highly regarded pup Snakebite Bale, from the all-conquering Dailly kennel jumps from box five in the same heat.
Snakebite Bale finished third in a heat of the Paws Of Thunder earlier this month before scoring a sound win over the 460m at Geelong last Friday night.
In-form Pedro Cerrano (box four, heat two), Nangar Flash (pictured with pink rug, box four in heat four) and impressive South Australian contender It’s Classified (box four, heat five), who has run some scorching times at Angle Park, also warrant consideration.
The Group 1 National Derby heats are part of a big night’s racing at Wentworth Park which also features the Group 1 National Futurity heats.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields and form, click here.
For Sportsbet's markets on the Derby heats, click here.
