Local star Mitcharlie Mia highlights Tuesday’s mouth-watering heats of the Group 2 Lismore Workers Club Cup (520m).
This year’s Group 2 Richmond Oaks winner (pictured) jumps from box one in the first of four heats (race five) of the $40,000-to-the-winner series looking ideally positioned to continue her fine record.
The Mitch Northfield-trained greyhound has secured 23 wins and 13 minor placings from 49 starts and has been in good form recently, scoring back-to-back wins over the 484m at Casino.
Mitcharlie Mia has scored five wins from six previous starts wearing the red rug and owner-trainer Northfield is confident his greyhound can make that six wins on Tuesday night.
“This draw has fiven her every chance,” Northfield said.
“Mitcharlie Mia has had two wins and a second in four starts since a spell and is going as well as ever.
“She’s the track record holder over the 520m at Lismore and from this draw I have to be confident that she can win again.”
Mitcharlie Mia is in arguably the toughest heat, with the field including multiple Group winner Knight Sprite (box two), last year’s Lismore Cup winner Kingsbrae Nelly (box three) and last Thursday’s Group 3 Gold Coast Cup winner Split Image (box four).
Knight Sprite has been below-par in his last two starts while this looks a little too tough for Kingsbrae Nelly, whose last win was in the cup final 14 starts ago.
This is Split Image’s first competitive look at Lismore but she has won five of his six starts from box four and looks the biggest danger to Mitcharlie Mia.
Split Image’s kennelmate Zabdon Ferrari (box two), from the gun Queensland kennel of Tony Brett, looks the best bet in the second heat (race six).
The recent Group 3 Townsville Cup winner has won six of her last eight starts and with her storming early pace should have too much for these.
Tilly’s Boy (box four), from the leading kennel of western Sydney trainer Dean Swain, can overcome a tricky draw to take out the third heat (race seven).
A winner in strong company at The Meadows three starts back, Tilly’s Boy has placed in tough races in his last two starts at Wentworth Park and is a class performer at his best.
Major Jackpot (box eight) is in strong form for local trainer Robbie Cooke and can salute again in the fourth heat (race eight).
The Lismore 420m track record holder has scored four wins in five starts since returning for racing in Victoria and with his scorching early pace looks the best in this race.
This heat also includes Queenslander Tripum (box five), who looks a decent roughie chance for the series.
The Darren Russell-trained greyhound won from box four on his only previous visit to Lismore earlier this year and is racing well, scoring his 16th career victory three starts back at Albion Park.
The winner and runner-up from each of the four heats progress to next Tuesday’s decider, the biggest race of the year in the NSW Northern Rivers region.
In other Ladbrokes Park Tuesday action, recent Group 3 Sydney Cup winner Apatite (box two) looks the best bet in the second heat of the Ladbrokes Monthly Medal (race 10, 635m).
For Ladbrokes Park Lismore fields, form and expert picks, click here.
