Gunning trainer Jodie Lord is convinced any one of her four finalists can win tonight's tab.com.au Canberra Cup, but nominates fastest qualifier Champion Model as her best chance.
Lord, far and away the most successful trainer at Canberra this year, will be represented by Champion Model in box one, Zambora Cross in box five, Bombshell Bandit in box six and Rohan Hill in box eight.
Champion Model led throughout from box five to win her heat in 30.49 while Bombshell Bandit and Zambora Cross were all-the-way heat winners in 30.48 and 30.62 respectively.
In his heat Rohan Hill exited box five when runner-up to Striker Klinsman in 30.51.
“Champion Model is an up-and-coming star and her brilliant early pace make her hard to beat in any race she contests,” Lord said.
“Having the rails draw in a strong field like this is obviously a bonus. But Zambora Cross is a prolific Wentworth Park winner so has class and experience, Bombshell Bandit had good Victorian form before coming to my kennels and Rohan Hill's favourite draw is box eight.”
The other heat winners were Sugar Man in 30.97 and Walkaway Bonnie in 31.01, while Striker Klinsman's kennelmate Hukanui made the final by finishing second to Champion Model.
Although she is the slowest qualifier, Walkaway Bonnie can cause an upset at long odds jumping from box seven.
The Lesley Hannaford-trained greyhound was hampered soon after the start and after being a distant fifth at the half-way mark, surged between rivals to snatch her heat win on the winning post.
“Walkaway Bonnie did trial 30.31 at Canberra early in her career and while she has not repeated that time there she is in with a chance,” Hannaford said.
“Box seven is okay because she seems to handle wide draws comfortably.”
Tony Rasmussen, who, with wife Lisa trains 48 greyhounds at Murray Bridge, in South Australia, has Striker Klinsman in box three and Hukanui in box four.
“We would have preferred them drawn the other way around,” Lisa said.
“Striker Klinsman does not always begin smartly but he has more early speed than Hukanui. And while Striker Klinsman is happy to go around his opponents, Hukanui tends to stick to the rails.”
Striker Klinsman must be Australia's most widely travelled greyhound as the Rasmussens took him to the Northern Territory for this year's Darwin Cup.
“He qualified for the final but finished unplaced,” Lisa said.
“Tony left Murray Bridge on Thursday afternoon and arrived in Canberra early Friday after a 13 hours drive. By leaving early it gives the dogs every chance to rest up and be ready to go on race day.”
The Canberra Cup is race eight on the program tonight and will be run at 7.34pm.
Click here to view fields, form and tips for all races at Canberra this evening.
