Huxley Hoping To Be The Hero At Headquarters

By Jeff Collerson

Huxley was knocked out of the race when in a winning position at Wentworth Park last Saturday night but has the perfect draw to make amends at headquarters tonight.

The Pauline Moran-trained greyhound has won each of his two races from box one and will wear the red rug again in race four, a 520m fifth grade.

Huxley beat only one rival home last Saturday but that form can be discarded because Huxley, in box two, was skittled by the wide running Glengarrie Mate, who had box one, as the pair disputed the lead at the first turn.

At his only Wentworth Park start from the rails trap, on March 10, Huxley won in a nippy 30.24 against a similar fifth grade field to the lineup he faces tonight.

Royal Turbo, who has won 15 races over the Wentworth Park 520m journey, finished fourth there last Saturday night but trainer Glen McKinley was far from disappointed with his greyhound's performance.

"He is raring to go again and is well drawn near the rails in box two in Wednesday's Free For All,'' McKinley said.

"Royal Turbo is at his best when he is able to dictate the pace but Real Simple, who is flying at the moment, beat him for the early lead last Saturday,'' McKinley said.

"Royal Turbo chased him most of the way and still wound up covering the 520m in 30.12, good time considering he was unable to be the pacemaker.

"Last week's race consisted of a smaller than usual field of six but a front runner like Royal Turbo is better off when he is opposed to a full complement of seven opponents.''

Blazin' Audrey was a certainty beaten when fourth at her most recent start, two months ago at Wentworth Park, and is poised to resume with a win in tonight's final event, a 520m fifth grade.

"Blazin' Audrey has had a couple of hit-outs at Wenty since she last raced there in February,'' trainer Jeff Eaton said.

"I gave her a post-to-post two weeks back and she went only two to three lengths slower than her kennelmate Blazin' Carter, who has won two races at Wentworth Park.

"Then I trialled Blazin' Audrey over 520m at Wentworth Park last Saturday and while she did not go as quick as I had hoped, she went well enough to be hard to toss this week.

"Those two runs back at Wentworth Park should do her fitness the world of good.

"I think she can win providing she jumps cleanly, because she totally bungled the start when she finished fourth at her last race in town.''

Lagoon Rhett came from last to finish fourth in a heat of the Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup over 450m last Thursday and the extra 70m of race five tonight, a far easier fifth grade event, should see him back in the winner's circle.

The Sharron Webster-trained Lagoon Rhett flew home at Maitland, beating all but Tristan Cannon, Ritza Lenny and Zipping Inglis, a trio of top notch sprinters.

He was just over five lengths from the winner, who covered the 450m in a sizzling 24.83, and Lagoon Rhett will relish the additional distance tonight.

He has recorded a fast 29.87 over the Wentworth Park 520m trip, and is the only greyhound in Wednesday's race to have broken the 30 second barrier.

Although Lagoon Rhett has box four, he could secure a clear run to the first corner as the front-running speedster Hear The Drums, who has box five, is a wide runner.

Jeff Collerson’s Selection’s
Best Bet: Huxley (Race 4)
Best Value: Blazin' Audrey (Race 10)

Quaddie
Race 5 - 4, 3, 5
Race 6 - 5, 4
Race 7 - 3, 2, 6
Race 8 - 2, 3
$20 for 55.55%