Local trainer Barry Dull rates Windy Girl as the best of his two promising chances in Saturday’s semi-finals of the $40,000-to-the-winner Group 3 Ipswich Auction Series (520m).
Dull rugs up Vee Bee Dooley (box four, race five) and Windy Girl (box eight, race eight), with both looking decent contenders to earn a place in the final.
Windy Girl is one of the most experienced greyhounds in the semi-finals, having had 28 starts to date.
She qualified for the semi-finals with second placed run – an effort that pleased Dull no end.
“I was over the moon with that run,” he said.
“It was a top effort to finish second behind Lantana Lass, who looks very promising. Obviously I’d like to see her from box one but she’s hard to beat from the eight. She’s won there from Ipswich in a smart time and is a good solid racer.
“It’s quite simple – if she does everything to the best of her ability, shows the early dash that’s she’s got and puts herself in this race, she’s in with a good chance.”
Vee Bee Dooley has the modest record of two wins and seven minor placings in 17 starts, but is currently racing well, having only missed the podium once in her last four starts.
She faces a tricky field here including Lantana Lass (box one), who won her heat last week in 30.69 and looks the latest star newcomer for gun trainer Tony Brett.
“It’s a hard race but Vee Bee Dooley is decent from box four and I know she will have a go from there,” Dull said.
“Realistically, she‘s probably running for second behind Lantana Lass but Vee Bee Dooley is a trier and I know she’ll give her all. I’d rate her as an each-way chance.
“Of the two, Windy Girl looks a much better winning prospect.”
Rather Dapper (box seven) is a highly promising newcomer for John McCarthy and looks the top pick in the second semi-final – race six.
Litter brother Slick (box six) scored an even more impressive 30.14 win at Ipswich last month and looks the clear standout in the third semi-final – race seven.
Slick has earned seven wins from 10 starts so far and has already broken the 30-second barrier at Albion Park.
Others to watch include Enjoy The Show (box three, semi-final three), from the gun Tony Apap kennel and Must Be Max (box five, semi-final five), who looks the best of four contenders for Tom Tzouvelis in the semi-finals.
Enjoy The Show won a heat of the recent Group 2 Vince Curry Memorial Maiden at Ipswich and also placed here well last week.
Must Be Max has won 10 of his 18 starts and returned to winning ways with a smart 30.51 victory in last week’s heats.
The four winners and runners-up progress to next Saturday night’s decider in the series, which is open to greyhounds sold at the 2015 Ipswich auction.
For Ipswich Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
