Local trainer Garry Edwards is hoping for another ‘Twist’ in his personal tale of the Nowra Puppy Classic.
Edwards will box one of the favourites for the $25,000 to the winner final on Saturday night, fastest semi-final winner Regal Twist, and he’ll be hoping she can emulate the achievement of his former kennel star, Double Twist (pictured), who won the race by eight lengths back in 2013.
“Her run in the heat was outstanding,” Edwards said. “She got to the first corner, she was three deep, she got turned inside out and dropped back to fourth but she still came home to run second and in the fastest time (behind Zipping Norton). It was a really good run and gave us confidence heading into the semi-final.
“We did have a little problem with her last week, and we have just kept her on the lead for the whole seven days. All of a sudden we seem to get these Achilles tendon injuries, we’ve had three in the last six months, it’s been mind boggling, but she has pulled up good on that leg.
“She’s a very tenacious chaser, and her mother (Twist Me Over) was the same like that. As she’s got a bit older and a bit more mature - she has just turned two - she’s got stronger, and her run home times in the last month have improved probably around four or five lengths.”
Regal Twist equalled her personal best time at Nowra in the semi-final clocking 29.88s, significantly quicker than the other semi-final won by Show Business in 30.22s. That pair have drawn alongside each other in the final in boxes four (Regal Twist) and five.
“The draw is not too bad,” Edwards said. “If she comes out on the right leg, she only needs two or three hops and she put the burners on, and she can just go to that first corner anywhere between 4.30s and 4.35s. We only need that little bit of a gap to give us a good hope of winning.”
Edwards won the Classic with Double Twist in 2013 and also ran third with her son, Panel Beater, in Tiempo Dinero’s Classic in 2017.
“If you look after the girls while they are racing, they will produce,” he said of Double Twist, who notably also produced talented sprinter Mister Twister.
“If you do the right thing they produce, it’s the same as Chica Destacada. Dorren and Kerry (Drynan) looked after her and she’s producing. Look after them, and don’t overdo it, and they will produce.”
As a local, and treasurer of the Shoalhaven Greyhound Club, success in the Classic is important for Edwards, and he is proud of his results over the years, and he will be hoping to add to that record with Regal Twist on Saturday evening.
