The well bred Chocolate Fever could finally be ready to realise his exciting potential – starting with today’s Bathurst RSL Club Final (race seven, 450m).
The litter brother of Australia’s current best stayer Burn One Down and champion Victorian star Buck Forty jumps from box eight in today’s decider.
Chocolate Fever has endured an interrupted career since debuting in October 2015 but has recorded some flying victories, including a smart 26.38 triumph in last week’s heats.
The son of Buck Fever and Fancy Jaffa has only won one of his four previous starts from box eight, but trainer Mark Swift is quietly confident.
“Every time I have had him right something unfortunately has happened,” Swift, who was the trainer of 2013 Group 1 National Distance champion Smart Valentino, said.
“His five wins have all been in best of the meeting times which show his ability.
“He’s a 25.70 greyhound at Bathurst which would win in this company and no doubt he can go even quicker (than last week).
“Box eight won’t help him but he’s jumping out of his skin at the moment (and) he has the early speed to make sure he can stay out of any trouble.
“We’ve got him back racing well now and it’s my aim to get him back up to the 500 metres. Who knows – we may win a couple at Wentworth Park with him yet.”
The biggest danger to Chocolate Fever looks like Fancy Bianca (box three), who finished three-and-a-quarter lengths behind Chocolate Fever in the heats but is a consistent performer at country tracks and with luck is capable of turning the tables.
Blitzkrieg (box four) clocked 26.50 winning last week and has placed in three of his four previous starts from box four.
In other Bathurst action this afternoon, Aged Badly (box one) ran a decent 30.17 over the 520m on his last start wearing the red rug at Bathurst on February 6 and looks the top pick in race five (520m).
Milko’s Magic can continue his winning for with victory from box one in the sixth race (450m).
The Michael Curtale-trained greyhound has won his last two starts, including a sound win over the 400m at Richmond on February 24, and looks the best bet in this race.
Justa Grant (box three) ran a sound 30.27 while winning at Bathurst two weeks ago from box three and looks capable of saluting again in race eight (520m).
For Bathurst Monday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
