To The Galo’s, who produced a track record performance in last year’s Goulburn Cup (440m) heats, will return to the Southern Tablelands track on Tuesday afternoon to have another crack at taking out the time-honoured series.
The Victorian greyhound jumps from box one in a scintillating first heat (race seven) which also features last year’s Goulburn Cup winner Let It Develop, who took out the decider by eclipsing To the Galo’s record with a 29.34 win.
To The Galo’s, who ran 29.43 to win his heat last year before finishing sixth in the cup final, has been in fine form this year for trainer Phil Smith.
He won this year’s Group 2 Warragul Cup in good fashion, beating a host of high-class performers, before placing in the Group 2 Horsham Cup.
He is still racing well with one win and two minor placings in his last five starts and looks a big threat in this heat.
“I think he can win,” trainer Smith said.
“Goulburn certainly suits him as he’s at his best on the horse shoe tracks. He gets that extra bit of room he needs.
“He’s better drawn out wide but he has won three times and placed six times in 12 starts from box four so this draw isn’t too bad. His only downfall is he can be slow out sometimes, but this distance ideally suits him now.
“His tardiness at the start is a concern but if he has his ‘race face’ on, he can overcome these.”
To the Galo’s has been a kennel star for hobby trainer Smith, who works as a sign writer based out of the Melbourne suburb of Pascoe Vale South.
“It’s been a very exciting 12 months,” Smith said.
“He’s such a tenacious chaser and is a really good greyhound to work with.
It’s a tough race with Let It Develop in box one and Super Senor also looking good in box eight, but having said that if he can qualify he should be a good chance in the final.
“If he can jump well and stick with them, he’s a decent chance.”
The Goulburn Cup heats have attracted some quality greyhounds for the series.
This year’s Group 3 Magic Maiden winner Wicked Warrior (box three), from the gun Jason Magri kennel, looks the top pick in the second heat (race eight).
One Great Place (box five) has won three of his last four starts and looks the standout in the third heat (race nine).
El Magnifico (box six) has run some terrific races in tough company at Wentworth Park and looks the one to beat in the fourth heat (race ten).
The heat winners and runners-up progress to next Tuesday’s Goulburn Cup final, the biggest race of the year at the track.
In what is a great card of racing at Goulburn on Tuesday, Hardaway Highway can continue his terrific 2016 with another victory in the first heat of the Palmerbet Fireball (race three, 350m).
The Ron Marsden-trained greyhound has been one of the state’s most consistent greyhounds this year and loves Goulburn, having won on four of his last five visits here.
Haich Two Mo (box one) has been a super performer at the provincial tracks and looks ideally drawn to win the second heat of the Fireball (race four).
In-form duo Gotta Get Back (box seven) and Say Sayang from box six look the top picks in the third and fourth Fireball heats
For Goulburn Tuesday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
