Lochinvar Hugo looks set to equal the Australian record of 16 consecutive TAB track wins by taking out tonight's Ladbrokes Newcastle Cup (race eight, 715m) at LADBROKES GARDENS.
The Robert Smith-trained greyhound notched his 15th successive victory when he ran down the highly talented Watch The Wasp OVER 590m at Bulli last Saturday night.
Lochinvar Hugo has drawn ideally in the cup and will be a hot favourite to equal the unequalled win sequence that was posted a decade ago by Miss Elly Mint, who was another Robert Smith-trained greyhound.
Lochinvar Hugo has not tackled a longer distance than 618m but Smith is certain the additional distance of the cup will not faze his champion.
“Lochinvar Hugo loves LADBROKES GARDENS as he was educated there from when he was an unraced youngster,” Smith said.
“I am happy with his outside draw in the Cup and his win at Bulli last Saturday was the perfect hit-out for this race.
“His Bulli run was even better than it looks on paper because he jumped well on the bend start and was going to go straight to the front until he got bumped.”
Veteran Hunter Valley trainer Ken Cheetham, whose greyhound Midnite Party has box four in the cup, does not believe the result is a foregone conclusion for Lochinvar Hugo.
“OVER the past 60 years I have seen dozens of greyhounds who have gone to the line strongly to win 600 metre races but have hit a brick wall when attempting to go past 700 metres,” Cheetham said.
“Midnite Party has been getting beaten at Wentworth Park but he goes a lot better at LADBROKES GARDENS and Gosford, and he will run a powerful 715m. He trialled well OVER 457m at CESSNOCK last week which proved to me he is fit and raring to go.
“Before one of his long distance wins at the provincials I trialled him OVER the short 515m course at LADBROKES GARDENS and he recorded top grade time of 29.50, running home in an almost unheard of 11 seconds flat. That proves how much ability he possesses even though he is such a wide runner.”
Midnite Party has raced 10 times OVER the LADBROKES GARDENS 600m middle distance trip for two wins and seven placings, while he won his only 715m test there in 41.99.
Another big threat to end Lochinvar Hugo’s winning streak is Ebby Ripper, who finished fourth in last year's Newcastle Cup and set the LADBROKES GARDENS track record for 715m in January with a 41.70 run.
Interesting runner in the cup, meanwhile, is Pirate's Curse, who has box six but has never seen the LADBROKES GARDENS course.
“Pirate's Curse handles all tracks alike and he went like a rocket when I gave him a solo trial at Nowra last Monday,” the greyhound’s trainer Darris Fahey said.
“I slipped him winning post-to-post and he came home in 12.30, the fastest run home time seen at Nowra for 10 years.
“Pirate's Curse had not seen Richmond for a long while when he won in near record time OVER 717m in November and if he can possie up in fourth spot early in the Cup he will be charging home at the finish.”
A win by Pirate's Curse will complete a remarkable fairy tale story as the greyhound was about to be placed into the greyhound adoption scheme and become a house pet until he was presented to Fahey as a gift 10 months ago.
Jeff Collerson’s selections:
Best Bet: Lochinvar Hugo (Race 8)
Best Value: Boil And Bubble (Race 5)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 7, 1
Race 6 - 5, 2
Race 7 - 4, 8, 1
Race 8 - 8, 2, 4
$20 for 55.55%
