It could be over or out in the first few seconds for Falcon’s Fury in Friday night's Ladbrokes Dubbo Gold Cup (516m).
Falcon’ Fury (pictured) jumps from box eight as one of three chances in the $10,000-to-the-winner decider for trainer Paul Braddon and his wife Pamela, who train out of Cowra in the NSW Central West.
A winner of 17 of his 26 starts so far, including this year’s Bulli and Bathurst gold cups, Falcon’s Fury went 0.05 outside the Dubbo track record with his sparkling 29.35 triumph in last week’s heats and is currently one of the state’s top greyhounds.
He has scored some flying wins but has a habit of missing the start – particularly in big races – and his connections are taking nothing for granted tonight.
“We’ll have to see if he can bring his box manners to the table,” Pamela Braddon said.
“If he nails the start then it’s his race to lose. He can be impatient in the boxes. We’ve tried to work on it but he still has the habit of missing the kick.
“He seems to know when it’s a big race as well, unfortunately. He bombed the start in the Maitland Gold Cup last month.
“The greyhound in box seven (Starburst Bassy) crashes to the left which should at least give him the room he needs. If he can get out cleanly then I think he could be off and gone.”
Falcon’s Fury won a heat of the Golden Easter Egg earlier this month before a disappointing seventh place finish in his semi-final.
He bounced back to his best in the Dubbo Gold Cup heats and is well drawn, having won two of his three previous starts jumping from box eight.
The Braddons also have litter sisters Little Cindy and Ferrero Miss jumping from boxes three and four respectively in the Dubbo Gold Cup.
Little Cindy finished second in her heat behind Starburst Bassy, while Ferrero Miss also finished runner-up behind Mitra in her heat.
“(Little) Cindy has more experience (and) has run 29.70 in a trial at Dubbo,” Pamela Braddon said.
“Ferrero Miss used to be a lid-pinger but lately she hasn’t been jumping as well as she can either. They are both lovely greyhounds but Paul likes Cindy and I think of the two she perhaps has the edge.”
Of the rest of the field, Mitra (box one) looks the biggest danger to the Braddon trio.
The Neil Staines-trained greyhound ran a strong 29.74 to win his heat last week and has the perfect draw to salute again in the final.
Slamming Thunder (box six), also trained by Staines, was eight lengths behind Falcon’s Fury last week but is racing well and has the strong record of three wins and two minor placings from six previous starts wearing the green rug.
Almost Black (box two), Oldmate Archie (box five) and Starburst Bassy (box seven) complete the field.
The night's racing also features the $10,000-to-the-winner Peg & Bill Miller Memorial Cup 0-1 Wins Final (race five, 516m).
Shockwave (box three), a talented newcomer from the premier Dean Swain kennel, looks the top pick.
For Dubbo Friday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
