Hunter Valley trainer Neville Broadbent rates his 2003 Singleton Oaks winner Lady Viera the best he has trained in his 25 years in the sport but believes Frog Stomp, who clocked fastest time of the meeting at LADBROKES GARDENS on Friday, could surpass her.
Frog Stomp took his record to three wins and two placings from five starts when he overcame a slow getaway to win over 515m in a slick 29.47.
That was no fluke as the dog had won there in a flying 29.33 at his previous start.
Broadbent, 69, trains Frog Stomp for the dog's breeder Wayne Chandler, for whom he also prepares the greyhound's litter sister Carpenter's Arms, who has been placed in two from four starts.
"Frog Stomp had a win and two placings from his first three starts at Maitland but I think he might be better suited on a two turn track like The Gardens,'' Broadbent said.
"I am planning on getting down to Wentworth Park to give him a trial because there are some good low grade races coming up over the Easter Egg carnival.
"After playing 400 soccer games for CESSNOCK as a midfielder I took up training greyhounds.
"I juggled that with working in the mines, running a chicken shop in CESSNOCK for 16 years, and then being employed by Singleton Council.
"Lady Vieri struggled to run 520m but had terrific early pace and had eight wins and 10 placings from 23 starts while one of her pups, Son Of Vieri, had 11 wins and 34 placings for me in 2011 and 2012.
"But the way Frog Stomp is going I think he will become my best.
"And his sister Carpenter's Arms has more ability than her form suggests because she ran home in 11.92 in a post-to-post trial at The Gardens.''
Mortified could manage only fourth placing when chasing her eighth Wentworth Park win in 13 appearances last Saturday night but will head south for Saturday night's heats of the group 1 Australian Cup at The Meadows.
"I took Mortified to The Meadows last Monday to give her a box-to-box trial and she flew,'' trainer CHRIS O'Brien said.
"We drove to Melbourne and in hindsight maybe the trip took the edge off her.
"She travelled well and seemed as bright as ever when we got home to Nowra but perhaps the whole experience flattened her slightly.''
