Victorian trainer David Geall is still trying to come to terms that he has the favourite for this Saturday night’s Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg with the in-form greyhound Up Hill Jill.
Up Hill Jill (pictured, white rug), who will jump from box two on Saturday night, is currently the $2.90 favourite with TAB to win the prestigious race at Wentworth Park after her brilliant 29.63 semi final win last Saturday night.
That triumph from the unfavourable box five draw extended Up Hill Jill’s Wentworth Park to three wins and one second from four starts at Wentworth Park, and Geall is understandably confident heading into Saturday night.
“I think she’s got to have a chance,” Geall said.
“With a greyhound with this much early pace, you know she's going to be competitive in any race. When she hits the ground then boy, she can go.
“She doesn’t mind the travel and certainly seems to like this place. She’s suited to the track and loves racing here.”
A win to Up Hill Jill on Saturday night will be a first Golden Easter Egg triumph for Geall, who has been training full-time for about 10 years.
“The Golden Easter Egg is our ‘big one’ in greyhound racing,” he said.
“It’s a massive thrill for me to be involved. It’s also nice to be coming with a genuine chance rather than making up the numbers.
“She’s done absolutely fantastic for me – I couldn’t ask for more – and hopefully she’ll do it again on Saturday night.”
NSW hopeful Mack Tux is a $4.80 chance with TAB and has been handed the perfect box one draw to score a win for the locals.
Trained by Bruce King at Cambridge Park in Sydney’s west, Mack Tux should benefit hugely from the rails draw given he is usually a lightning-fast beginner.
He had to work hard for his semi-final win, having to overcome a slow start on his way to clocking a relatively moderate 30.22.
Striker Light (box seven, $3.70) ran 29.64 in the semi-finals and has won five of her six visits to Wentworth Park.
This year’s Group 1 National Futurity champion, trained by renowned mentor Brett Bravo, has never jumped from box seven but still has big claims with her dazzling pace.
Fellow Victorian Big Flood (box four, $6.50) has been solid rather than spectacular so far in the series but has won four of his five starts wearing the blue rug and looks a decent outside chance.
Kennelmate Aqua Cheetah (box six, $6) broke the 30-second barrier with his semi-final victory and also looks a strong chance.
Lucky Chap (box three, $5), Slamming Thunder (box five, $15) and Lagoon Jazzy ($26) in box eight complete the field.
The Group 1 Golden Easter Egg is part of a great night’s racing at Wentworth Park featuring five feature races on Easter Saturday.
