The Mick Stringer-trained Tasmanian greyhounds Manila Dawn and Arugula have qualified for Tuesday’s Country Oaks final at Devonport and could be on their way to Sydney for next month's Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic at Wentworth Park.
Manila Dawn has won 11 of 15 starts while Arugula possesses a similarly impressive strike rate, having scored in 11 of her 19 races.
“They know their way around Wentworth Park and as they have both won there an age restricted classic like the Peter Mosman is nice option for them,” Stringer said.
“Manila Dawn has terrific early pace and she jumped faster when she won her Country Oaks heat last week so if she happened to nail the start in a race like the Peter Mosman her early zip would be a big asset.
"I am likely to send Arugula across to Perth for the Western Australia Oaks heats at Cannington on May 20 because she is very strong and that course should suit her.
“But Manila Dawn would be better suited in the Wentworth Park classic.”
Heats of the Peter Mosman Classic are scheduled for June 3 while the Group 3 Western Australia Oaks gets under way on May 20.
XXXX
Crack middle distance performer Mr. Shire's litter sister Forced Exit made a remarkable return to racing at Unibet Gardens on Friday after five months away from the track.
The Bob McColm-trained Forced Exit ran down Black Eva to win over 600m in 34.64.
That time, only 0.44 outside Mr. Shire's track record, was outstanding as Forced Exit was having her first start in 2017.
“She wasn't performing how I knew she could so I gave her time off,'' McColm said.
“Forced Exit clocked 34.47 at The Gardens when she was last in work and I'm confident she will stay the 720m at Wentworth Park. But she will need more work over middle distances before she is ready for that.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Shire is sitting in his kennel waiting to resume racing after missing April's group 1 Association Cup at Wentworth Park due to tearing out a toenail.
“He is raring to go again but I have not been able to secure a draw with Mr Shire for the past couple of weeks,” McColm said.
XXXX
Successful hobby trainer Subawa Ngurah will study dates and venues for the remaining heats of the Ladbrokes Up For The Challenge before deciding on immediate race plans for Bali Blee, who opened his Wentworth Park account on Wednesday.
Aptly named considering Ngurah migrated to Australia from Bali in 1980, Bali Blee stormed down the outside to score a nose win in a heat of the Up For The Challenge series.
“I am the proprietor of a security business so there are time constraints on where and when I can race my greyhounds,” Ngurah said.
“There is no greyhound racing in Bali, but after I came to Sydney I got friendly with several people who were involved in the sport, fellows like Steve Milligan.
“It wasn't long before I found myself so attracted to this breed of dog, they are just beautiful animals. I began training greyhounds eight years ago and keep several as pets.
“In fact Komodo, who was a smart race dog, sleeps alongside me. Bali Blee's win didn't surprise me as he had been placed in three of his five previous Wentworth Park races and just needed more experience.
“I intend entering his litter brother Fubre for this Wednesday's Wentworth Park meeting. Fubre has more early pace than Bali Blee and I expect him to win in town shortly.”
Fubre was desperately unlucky when third to Cyanide in an Up For The Challenge heat last Wednesday as he collided with Prancing Tiger when disputing the lead approaching the home turn.
Bali Blee and Fubre have won 18 races between them.
XXXX
A slick 450m performance trial at Maitland on Thursday has earned the Darryl Thomas trained Silver Gambler a shot at the Richmond Riches Puppy Classic.
Heats of the Richmond event are set down for Friday night over 535m and while Silver Gambler has not been tested over that trip he got to the line powerfully at Maitland.
After being second early, Silver Gambler pounced on the lead at the first turn before careering away to win by five lengths in 25.18.
The greyhound’s time compared well with the 24.74 figures posted by the Jason Mackay-trained Aston Dee Bee, who had broken the Bulli 472m record four days earlier.
