-2008.JPG)
Fan favourite Bessy Boo will step up to the 600m middle distance trip for the Heats of the Toledo Trailers Distance Championship at this evening’s Canberra twilight meeting.
The Christine Proctor-trained greyhound (pictured), who has the most wins ever at Wentworth Park with 28, will have his first start beyond 535m since June last year when he takes part in the third Heat of the two week series.
Despite the extra distance, Proctor believes Bessy Boo is in with a strong chance of taking out his Heat.
“Although he has won 25 races over 520m at Wenty, the 600m journey at Canberra is absolutely ideal for him,” Proctor said.
“He will jump from box seven which is the same draw he had when he won last Wednesday night (at Wentworth Park).”
Bessy Boo is not the only group winner lining up in the Distance Championship series with last year's Richmond Derby winner Quasi Bale one of three Victorian visitors from the Lisa and Mark Delbridge kennels contesting the Canberra Heats.
Mark Delbridge has Allen Lottery in box six in Bessy Boo's Heat while he has Quasi Bale in box eight in Heat four where wife Lisa has White Bandit in box four.
“Our three greyhounds all have plenty of ability and we have driven to Canberra to give them a trial on the track so they will know where they are going,” Lisa Delbridge said.
“Quasi Bale clocked the fastest time when we trialled them at Canberra but they each went well. Quasi Bale can sometimes be a bit tardy early but he is not badly drawn in box eight.
“White Bandit has box four and the closer to the rails he is, the better he likes it. Allen Lottery is poorly positioned in box six because he will want to get to the inside fence.”
Heat one of the Distance Championship is the strongest, with the mighty Brad Hill Billy, a 600m specialist, in box four, Nangar Flame in five and Miss Foxy Lee in box three.
While most experts consider the race a match between prolific winners Brad Hill Billy and Nangar Flame, the trainers of Miss Foxy Lee and Tullabung Honey are quietly confident.
Miss Foxy Lee won her third Wentworth Park 520m race on Wednesday night and while she is untried over 600m trainer Dean Swain believes she will run the distance out strongly.
“Miss Foxy Lee came from behind to win on Wednesday but can run much faster time when on the bunny and that's where I expect her to be at Canberra.”
Neil Staines, trainer of Tullabung Honey, believes his greyhound is perfectly drawn in box eight.
“Tullabung Honey has a great chance of leading and when she can dictate the pace she is awfully hard to run down.”
First and second in tonight’s Heats will qualify for next Sunday's $10,000 to the winner final.
