Gate Blaster can help owner-trainer Paul Bigeni celebrate a landmark racing anniversary in style with victory at Richmond tonight.
The son of Barcia Bale and Midnight Movie jumps from box two in the Swift Fancy @Stud Stakes (race five, 618m) aiming to extend his record of seven wins and seventeen minor placings in 39 starts.
Gate Blaster has gone winless in his last 15 starts but has been racing in elite company over the 520m at Wentworth Park and has placed there twice in his last four races.
This is his first look at the 618m at Richmond but he has won over the 600m at Gosford and enjoys visiting the western Sydney track, having scored two wins and two minor placings in five attempts over the 535m circuit.
“I’m happy with him,” Bigeni said. “He’s pulled up okay from Wentworth Park last Saturday and is ready to go.
“He’s lost a bit of his early pace but he has been finishing his races at Wentworth Park strongly, so this distance could suit him.
“It’s a tough race. Keith Pedrana’s greyhound in box seven (Kim’s Love) is a very strong greyhound, so mine will have to match her.
“It will all depend on how well they jump. If he gets that right then I think he can win.”
Gate Blaster has placed twice in his two previous starts wearing the checks and placed in both his two previous races over the 600m at Gosford last year.
He has been a consistent performer for Bigeni, who is based at Girraween in Sydney’s west and is celebrating 50 years of training.
In other Richmond Friday action, Dusty Gambler (box eight) can salute in the night’s race two over the 535m.
A lightly raced greyhound from the premier Jason Magri kennel, Dusty Gambler has endured an interrupted career so far but won a heat of last year’s Group 3 Nowra Spring Puppy Classic with a flying 29.57 run and looks the best in this if fully fit.
He Can Yodel (box five) can continue his superb recent form with victory in the night’s fourth race over the 400m.
The son of Fabregas and Another Request has won his last three starts – all over the 400m at Richmond – and all four of his career wins so far have come over this trip.
Wonelova Gunn is resuming after a four-week spell but can return with victory in race eight over the 400m.
The daughter of Mogambo and Fantasy Royale has gone winless in five starts since scoring six straight wins to open her racing career but has recorded some flying times over the 400m at Maitland and the Gardens.
Class act Mack Tux (box eight, pictured) finished second at Richmond last week over the 400m but can go one better with victory in race nine over the same trip.
The Bruce King-trained greyhound, a finalist in this year’s Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg, has the formidable record of five wins and five minor placings from 11 visits to Richmond and has won four of her five starts wearing the black rug.
He has never previously jumped from box eight but looks the best in this field if he is fit and firing.
For Richmond Friday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
