Up-and-coming sprinter King Carmody (box eight, heat five) begins an ambitious dual state campaign tonight in the heats of the Gosford Goldmine before taking part in next month's Group 1 Hudson Pacific Maturity Classic in Melbourne.
The Goldmine series (515m) is for greyhounds with between one and five wins, but King Carmody's three victories from eight starts include a slick 30.04 Wentworth Park success and a sizzling 29.66 at Unibet Gardens.
Trainer Jodie Van Enkhuyzen thought enough of her greyhound to start him in the recent Group 1 Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Classic but King Carmody found trouble in his heat and finished fifth to Patch Adam.
"King Carmody has had a couple of 400m hit-outs at Gosford so knows the track," Van Enkhuyzen said.
"After the 515m Goldmine series, which ends with the final on June 27, King Carmody will go to Melbourne trainer Steve White, who will get him ready for the Maturity Classic."
Meanwhile, Kerry Drynan has a strong candidate in tonight's Goldmine heats in the form of Fortunes Of Time (box seven, heat two).
Fortunes Of Time disappointed at Gosford last week and veering hard left at the start but has won in 30.11 and 30.30 at Wentworth Park so should improve.
Local hope Just Savannah produced a sparkling lead-up run for tonight's Goldmine heats by finishing third to Marilena Franco in a strong race at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night.
Just Savannah disputed the early lead with the winner but lost ground by running wide around the first turn and after being second in the middle stages went down by less than five lengths.
"She goes well at Gosford and won there in 30.23 on June 6," Jeff Eaton, whose wife Carole owns and trains the greyhound, said.
Just Savannah will jump from box two in the first Goldmine heat.
The six heat winners and two fastest placegetters progress to next Tuesday’s $5000-to-the-winner final.
Tonight's Gosford meeting also features the Ladbrokes Monthly Medal Maiden final (race three) where fastest heat winner Meg's Marvel (box six) is set to give hobby trainer James York his biggest success.
"I own a pest control business but just over two years ago began training greyhounds as a hobby," York said.
"When I decided to buy Meg's Marvel from my pal Bryan Young I decided to let my children Megan, 27, and Bradley, 24, select the puppy. They chose Meg's Marvel.
"While she lacks early speed she is extremely strong at the finish of her races.
"She is still very green and went into last week's Gosford heats with hardly any field experience, so she did us proud."
Meg's Marvel came from third at the halfway mark to win her heat in 30.18, with the other heat winners being Anndar Plonk (30.20), Residual (30.30) and Devine Rite (30.52).
For Gosford fields, form and expert picks, click here.
