Tommy Ready To Back Up Again

Ritza Tommy has won each of his five races since September 1 and trainer Andrew Bell has no concerns about his dog's ability to "back up" again at Bulli on Saturday night.

Ritza Tommy faces his toughest test as he exits box one in the top grade 472m Bulli Dogs On Facebook Stakes.

Mack Boy (box two) and Trunkey Rose (box four) have each clocked a blistering 26.11sec for the Bulli 472m trip and the small field of six suits their racing technique.

But Bell said: "Ritza Tommy was fresh as a daisy after winning in 22.24 over 400m at Bulli on Wednesday and could have gone around again at 10pm that night.

"He is a wonderful dog to train, he is no frills and has no problems and the step up to 472m on Saturday will suit him.

"Ritza Tommy could well be a middle distance greyhound.

"His kennelmate Cop Magnet has won four from seven Bulli 472m starts and has recorded 26.28 and although he has drawn box five against Ritza Tommy he is capable of being the pacemaker.

"Cop Magnet takes a couple of strides to hit top gear but when he does he goes quick, although Ritza Tommy would be too strong for him in the run home.''

Giant 40kg dog Big Benno has not raced for nearly five months but is trialling well enough to give Saturday's 400m Masters Stakes a shake.

Big Benno had two wins and second in April and May and goes into Saturday's race with the impressive strike rate of eight wins from 19 starts.

"I trialled Big Benno over 340m at Bulli recently and he clocked 19.20 on a track which wasn't exactly fast,'' trainer Nathan Bendeich said.

"My main worry is he has not been over 400m since November last year.''

Hardaway Harada, who took his tally to 38 wins from 74 races with a 340m win in 19.18 at Bulli on Wednesday, will be a warm favourite.

But Hardaway Harada has box eight and has won just four of 15 starts from boxes seven and eight.

Bugatti Reign, chasing his fourth successive win for trainer Jacqueline Davis, is also a top contender from box six.

Hardaway Harada's trainer Ron Marsden rates Sandave Diamond a solid chance in Saturday's 472m fifth grade Ladbrokes Easy Form Stakes.

"Since winning in a fast 30.49 over 535m at Richmond on September 8 Sandave Diamond has had two unplaced runs but forget those defeats, he has simply had no luck at all,'' Marsden said.

Boom former western districts youngster Harrison Keeping makes his first appearance for trainer Sarah Easey in Saturday night's Brett Adams Stakes, a 400m fifth grade.

"Harrison Keeping has been in my kennels a couple of months and has been improving with each trial,'' Easey said.

"But he has box eight and I would have liked him drawn on the inside.''

Easey gives Mini Moscato a chance in Saturday's 472m Southern Engine Reconditioning Stakes a chance providing she begins cleanly.

"Mini Moscato can be a bad box dog and a wide runner but she is also capable of pinging the lids,'' Easey said.

"She bungled the start when sixth over 400m at Bulli on Wednesday but is better suited over 472m and can win if she comes out like she did when second to Bandit Butch over 400m at Bulli on September 15.''

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$20 for 37.03%