Jason MACKAY is due to have several greyhounds lining up for this Friday’s heats of the Group 2 Sires On Ice Black Top at LADBROKES GARDENS.
MACKAY, who won the 2010 Black Top with Snozz, will nominate Group 1 winner Mister Twister, Riley Tokaam, Aston Selena and Paddy's Magic for the two-week series.
Mister Twister (pictured) will head to LADBROKES GARDENS after missing out on qualification for the Group 1 National Sprint Championship after finishing second to Bekin Street at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Riley Tokaam, meanwhile, will join his kennelmate after the greyhound received time honours for 520m at the same Wentworth Park meeting, with a 29.83 victory in a 4/5th grade event.
The win was Riley Tokaam’s second Wentworth Park win in 72 hours and MACKAY is quietly confident about his chances in the Black Top heats.
“Riley Tokaam can be a risky beginner but displayed his talent at Wentworth Park (on Saturday and) on Wednesday when he won in 29.77, far and away best 520m time of the night, running home in a sizzling 11.70,” MACKAY said.
MACKAY also has a high opinion of Paddy’s Magic.
“Paddy's Magic has not set Wenty alight so far but he is a better dog at LADBROKES GARDENS, he loves the place and really zips around that track. Aston Selena has not raced since winning first up at Wentworth Park on July 29 but she has posted sensational time in a hand-slip at the Black Top venue,” the Richmond Vale trainer said.
MACKAY's contingent will not have things their own way in the Black Top series as Gunning-based trainer Jodie Lord, who is enjoying her most successful year, will launch a six pronged bid to land the final winner's $40,000 cheque.
Lord skipped the recent National Sprint Championship series with Zambora Cross and Old Bailey, the stars of her team, to concentrate on the Black Top.
“Zambora Cross and Old Bailey will relish LADBROKES GARDENS because they are fast beginners with good early toe,” Lord said.
“I am also nominating Asa Barboza, Rohan Hill, who has won 10 from 22 starts, the up-and-coming Zipping Spring and Champion Model, an exciting youngster. Champion Model is very smart and has won seven of 14 races at Canberra, Bulli and Goulburn.”
The surprise packets of the Black Top series could be Mr. Vuitton, who has been especially prepared for the race, and the 39kg giant Kong.
“Mr. Vuitton has not raced since winning on July 12 but there has been nothing amiss, I have been working him along with the Black Top heats in mind,” trainer Paul Roderick said.
While Kong has not raced at LADBROKES GARDENS, the dog has recorded 29.28, just 0.09 outside the track record, in a trial on the track.
Fields for the heats of the Black Top will be released on Tuesday. Final of the Black Top will be run on Friday, August 25.
