Rookie stayer Sherbini has trialled so well at her first look at Wentworth Park she is set to give established stars Big Daddy Bee and Ebby Ripper the race of their lives in a heat of the NSW Distance Championship at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Sherbini will make her Wentworth Park race debut from box four in heat two (race four, 720m), where Ebby Ripper will exit box two and Big Daddy Bee has drawn five.
After Sherbini had starred in a succession of middle distance provincial races, trainer Mark Gatt made the surprise decision to take on Australia's best long-distance greyhounds in the heats.
But Sherbini's owner Sonia Davis has disclosed that Sherbini trialled brilliantly over 720m at Wentworth Park last Saturday night.
“Mark put her over the 720m course following the last race on the card and Sherbini lived up to our expectations, covering the 720m in 42.28,” Davis said.
“And her run home time of 12.30 was especially encouraging.”
Sherbini's trial time compares well with the fastest 720m figures posted by Ebby Ripper (42.16) and Big Daddy Bee (42.27).
Successful breeder Davis also has the John Callaughan-trained Elantris making his long-distance debut in heat one (race three).
“If he had not had so many injuries during his career Elantris would have tackled 720m long ago,” Callaughan said.
“I'm not sure if he will run it out but Elantris has always given the impression he would stay. I would have preferred to see him in box eight, that is his favourite, but he has drawn box one and that is next best for him.”
Elantris faces a tough task as he is up against Big Daddy Bee's kennel mate Midnight Treat (box two), Starzsa Light (box five) and the improving Fire And Smoke (box six).
The top four from each heat will qualify for next week’s NSW Distance Championship final. The winner of that race qualifies for the Group 1 National Distance Championship at Albion Park on August 25.
