Mr. Shire, one of the most popular greyhounds to race at Wentworth Park in years, is tipped to make a successful return to headquarters in tonight's 720m Ruth Parsons Memorial Stakes.
The Bob McColm-trained Mr. Shire has not raced for a month but has trialled brilliantly on the eve of his Wentworth Park comeback race. The dog has become a crowd favourite because of his consistency, he has won 17 of 28 races including four from five over 720m at Wentworth Park and his heart-stopping style of racing.
Mr. Shire is spectacular to watch because as trainer Bob McColm says: "Boxes don't matter to him because he is usually last early.''
McColm gave Mr. Shire a post-to-post hand-slip at LADBROKES GARDENS on Monday and the dog posted figures which have rarely been equalled at the Newcastle circuit.
"Since his hit-out on Monday Mr Shire has been kept on the lead to make sure he doesn't get hurt,'' McColm said.
"If I let him run around the paddock he goes absolutely mad, so he is being kept in cotton wool in the lead-up to the Wenty race.''
Mr. Shire's clash with established Wentworth Park long-distance ace Starzsa Light and the up-and-coming Sherbini promises to be the highlight of tonight's card.
Starzsa Light has won seven of 14 Wentworth Park 720m races for trainer Dean Swain while the Mark Gatt-trained Sherbini has won five of eight races. She finished third in a heat of the NSW Distance Championship at her first long-distance race at Wentworth Park on August 5 but a mild bout of kennel cough forced her out of the final.
Charrua, who ran the race of his life to chase home group race star Aston Bolero in a heat of the group two Sires On Ice Black Top at LADBROKES GARDENS last week, looks the dog to beat in Saturday night's main 520m event. The Jodie Van Enkhuyzen-trained Charrua has box five in the Free For All but his trainer is not concerned about the "squeeze'' draw.
"He runs straight from the boxes to the first turn,'' Van Enkhuyzen said.
"Charrua's only flaw is that he is a hit or miss beginner.
"When he finished second to Aston Bolero in the heat of the Black Top he was having his first race for two months.
"I had wanted to give him two post-to-post trials at LADBROKES GARDENS in the lead-up to that race but due to a cut foot he was only able to have the one run.''
Jeff Collerson's Picks
Best Bet: Mr. Shire (Race 2)
Best Value: Charrua (Race 7)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 5, 7, 1
Race 6 - 4, 8
Race 7 - 5, 1, 6
Race 8 - 2, 1, 6
$20 for 37.03%
