Darren Rowe, who juggles greyhound training with a job as a pastry chef, believes a win for his star greyhound Olivia Benson at Cannington on Saturday night could just be the icing on the cake.
Olivia Benson jumps from box four in the Free-For-All skyracing.tv Stakes (race nine, 520m) off the back of a good recent run of form since returning from a stint in NSW.
After scoring a smart victory over the 520m two starts back, Olivia Benson had a sound placing over the 600m behind high-class winner Single Sticka last week in a decent 35.38.
She faces Single Sticka (box eight) again this week and Rowe believes his greyhound can turn the tables in this race.
“I’m confident she’ll run a good race,” Rowe said.
“Single Sticka is a terrific greyhound but if she can sit on him, I think she will be hard to hold out.
“The one thing you know is that she always puts in strong race and she’s more than up to this distance.
“She’s certainly a decent each-way chance.”
Olivia Benson reached the final of the recent Group 3 Sydney Cup (held over 720m) and was a fancied $6 for the final, but found trouble early and could only finish eighth behind surprise winner Apatite.
She then won one of two starts at Bathurst before heading back to Western Australia and saluting over the 520m at Cannington with an impressive 29.90 win.
Olivia Benson is one of the kennel stars for Rowe, who works as head chef at an award-winning bakery.
“They (working as a greyhound trainer and a pastry chef) both have highs and lows,” he said.
“Pastry cooking is more ‘get in and go home’, whereas greyhounds are 24/7.
“I find them both rewarding. Greyhounds are more stressful but a lot more enjoyable, especially if you have success.
“I also love celebrating a win with owners and other people – that’s what I enjoy best.”
In other Cannington action on Saturday night, the David Hobby-trained kennelmates Ashom Monelli and Lachlan Monelli look two of the night’s strongest chances in races two and eight respectively.
Ashom Monelli (box four) has won three of his last four starts and triumphed over the 600m distance last week at Cannington – the same distance he competes over this weekend.
Lachlan Monelli (box one) was a sound 30.29 winner over the 520m at Cannington last week from box two and can repeat that feat from the rails draw.
Jilly Keeping (box eight) was a finalist in last week’s Group 3 Young Stars Classic (520m) at Cannington and can win the 3/4th grade Brittons Formal Wear (race five, 520m).
The Terry Erenshaw-trained greyhound has run some solid times recently and has won both her previous starts from box eight.
Best value chance for the night looks like classy former Victorian greyhound Sausage Sizzle, who jumps from box two in the Free-For-All Love The Chase (race four, 520m).
Having his first run in Western Australia for trainer Jamie Marsh, Sausage Sizzle had been competitive in a number of races at The Meadows before relocating out west.
For Cannington Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
