Mitch Northfield is hoping for a memorable birthday present in tonight's Group 2 Lismore Workers Club Cup (520m) with Mitcharlie Mia.
Northfield looks to have a great chance of scoring the $40,000 top prize with Mitcharlie Mia (pictured), who jumps from box one in the decider.
Mitcharlie Mia scored a track record 29.48 win in last week’s heats and looks the one to back in the cup, which is the biggest race of the year in the Northern Rivers.
With six wins from seven previous starts from box one, she looks ideally positioned to take the cup for birthday boy Northfield.
“I certainly hope so,” Northfield, who turns 56 on Tuesday, said.
“It was really excited to see the box draw. It was a bonus after she ran so well last week.
“There’s some real quality greyhounds involved in this so to get box one was great (and) it could be decisive.”
Mitcharlie Mia, who was the previous 29.78 track record holder, has enjoyed a dream 2016 for retired plasterer Northfield.
She won the Group 2 Richmond Oaks earlier this year, qualified for the final of the Golden Easter Egg and has almost $90,000 prize money to her name.
After a below-par period in the winter, she has won her last three races and looks tough to beat in the final.
Major Jackpot (box seven), trained by Woodview’s Robert Cooke, ran just .01 slower than Mitcharlie Mia last week from the same draw and has strong claims.
Split Image (box five) is a quality contender from the gun Queensland kennel of Tony Brett, while Maja Mahi Mahi (box three) Clocked 29.61 last week and looks the best value chance.
A win would also be the perfect health tonic for Northfield, who has been suffering from ‘flu in the run up to the big race.
“I’m feeling pretty crook but thankfully Mitcharlie Mia is looking better than I am,” he said.
“It’s been wonderful taking her to Sydney and racing her there but winning a Lismore Cup would be the best feeling.
“I daresay there’ll be a few Northfields cheering her on so it would be lovely to win it for them.
“It’s just great to be involved in a Lismore Cup – to win it would be unbelievable.”
The final is part of a great night’s racing at Ladbrokes Park Lismore.
Ten races are on the card and action starts at 6.47pm.
For Ladbrokes Park Lismore Tuesday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
