FINE food and fresh air is a regime serving Chase Delaney well and the airborne newcomer looks primed to salute again at Maitland">Maitland today.
The Steven Baker-trained greyhound jumps from box five in today’s race four (450m) aiming for a fifth consecutive victory after a string of FINE performances at country tracks.
The son of multiple Group winner Paw Licking and Sheeza Delaney extended his record to eight wins and two minor placings from 15 starts with a Best-of-the-Day victory over the 400m at Maitland">Maitland last Thursday">Thursday.
Hobby trainer Baker, a bricklayer based close to Port Macquarie on the state’s mid-north coast, clocks up the hours to ensure his greyhounds are in peak condition.
“I get up at 4.30am and walk my dogs four or five kilometres every morning,” he said. “I live in the bush so they get plenty of fresh air and space.
“It makes a difference as it gets them fit and strong.
“I believe in taking things slowly with my greyhounds – I only step them up in distance when they’re ready.
“I’m certainly confident he can handle the 450 metres and run a good race today.”
This is Chase Delaney’s first look at the 450m trip but on current form he looks up to the task.
He won on debut over the 384m at Wauchope on December 26 and since then has gone from strength-to-strength, including scoring a Best-of-the-Day victory over the 350m at Kempsey in April.
Chase Delaney finished seventh over the 400m at Maitland">Maitland in May and after a slightly below-par spell has scored four successive wins, including two at the Hunter Valley track.
“He was having a few problems with his weight,” Baker said. “I changed his diet, worked on a few things and now he’s coming good.
“He gets very excited heading to the boxes and can miss the start, but when he gets going he can certainly run.
“Chase Delaney is a beautiful-looking greyhound and has a great temperament. He finished last week’s race (over the 400m) strongly and seems to be getting stronger.
“He’s going well and I think he can continue that today.”
In other Maitland">Maitland action, premier Hunter Valley trainer Jason Mackay could score victories in races eight and nine with Aston Selena and Riley Tokaam respectively.
Aston Selena (box eight) is a former quality Victorian performer who looks ideally suited to this 450m trip.
Riley Tokaam (box seven) faces a tough field over the 565m but won twice over this trip last month and also has a recent Wentworth Park victory to his name too.
Winksey Valley is another standout newcomer and looks a strong winning chance in race 10 over the 400m.
The DAVE Irwin-trained greyhound (box four) is aiming for a fourth straight victory after some great victories on his local Grafton track and has the speed to combat the tricky box draw.
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