Iconic race caller Ray Fewings will be aiming for Group race success at Angle Park today when he lines up Don’t Kid Me in a heat of the Group 3 Howard Ashton (515m) series.
Fewings trains Don’t Kid Me from his kennels in Williamstown and has enjoyed good success with the son of Lochinvar Marlow who has nine wins from 23 starts.
The latest win for Don’t Kid Me came at his last start at Angle Park in which he won in 30.11.
He will now jump from box eight in the first Howard Ashton heat (race three) today. Despite his solid form Fewings is apprehensive about Don’t Kid Me’s chances in the series.
"He's probably a better dog drawn near the inside Because he's not the best dog out of the boxes,” Fewings said.
"But having said that, he did win well from box eight about six weeks ago and it's only a small field on Thursday so I probably shouldn't be making excuses for him before the race.
"I will be pleased if he can just run in the top three and progress through to next week."
Fewings has been involved in greyhounds all of his life.
“My father said to me when I was younger 'we need to do a sport together' and offered me a choice between a go-kart and greyhound,” he said.
“Being a racing fanatic, I obviously took the dog and it started my love affair."
“At the moment, my wife and I breed and rear a lot of greyhounds on our property so it's a full-time job."
“I occasionally call the odd race these days when I'm required but the greyhounds are my main responsibility.”
Fewings believes there is three standout chances in this year’s Howard Ashton series - Team Roper (heat one, box two), Relton (heat three, box eight) and Harbormaster (heat two, box eight).
“The series this year is of an incredibly high standard. I've been following dogs for over 50 years and in my opinion, this would be the best line-up of young dogs South Australia has ever had,” he said.
“It is the best I've seen in terms of depth and talent.
“Because the series is such a good standard, I would honestly be pleased if he could just qualify for the final.”
Five heats of the Howard Ashton will take place at Angle Park today with the semi finals next Thursday and then the Group 3 final to be held on Thursday, June 2.
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