Exciting littermates Black Jack Opal and Caramel Opal could land a winning double for Len and Carol Hudson at the Unibet Gardens meeting on Friday afternoon.
Black Jack Opal (box four), who is closely related to 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Black Magic Opal, aims for a sixth win in his first seven starts in a heat of the 5th grade B&B Total Supplies Gardens-Wenty series (race six, 515m).
The well-bred son of Barcia Bale and Glamorous Opal clocked a sizzling best of the night 29.66 at Unibet Gardens two starts back and saluted from box four last week in 30.06.
He faces a tough field including Zipping Montana (box five) and Donna Sins (box seven), but Les Hudson, who trains Black Jack Opal, is confident he can score another triumph.
“The box doesn’t seem to matter much for him,” Hudson said.
“He’s won from the four and six so far and this is giving him good race experience. He got jammed up in the first turn last week but came through it and won well again.
“I don’t think he’s as good as his uncle, although at this stage he looks stronger in the run home. He’s a smart greyhound and I think he can win this.”
Hudson also said Black Jack Opal’s litter sister Caramel Opal (box four), trained by Carol, looks a decent chance in the Unibet Gardens Maiden Final (race four, 515m).
Caramel Opal clocked 29.94 when winning from box six last week on her second start and also scored a placing over the 400m at Maitland on debut.
“I think she can win from there,” he said.
“She’s not a bad beginner so the draw may not be too much of a problem.
“There’s some very smart greyhounds involved in both races but I’d say both her and Black Jack Opal are worth the double.”
The Hudsons burst into the headlines in 2013 with their star greyhound Black Magic Opal, who they bred and trained in the early part of his career. The couple went on to sell Black Magic Opal to Jason Thompson who trained the greyhound when he won the 2013 Melbourne Cup.
In other Unibet Gardens action on Friday afternoon, Swift Yarn (box four) looks capable of saluting in the heat of the 5th grade Hardy Precision Excavating Stakes Gardens-Wenty (race five, 515m).
The Cheryl Murray-trained greyhound has been in consistent recent form with one win and two placings in her last three starts and clocked a smart 29.90 over this trip three starts back.
Task Force (box eight) has mixed form recently but looks a decent chance to complete the final leg of the quaddie in the 4/5th grade greyhoundproductsdirect.com.au Stakes (race eight, 400m).
The Maureen West-trained greyhound won over the 400m at Maitland two starts back and also won from box eight over this distance at Maitland in July.
For Unibet Gardens fields, form and expert picks, click here.
