Magri Happy With Canya Love Me

By Jeff Collerson
Canya Love Me has not raced at Richmond but if she is beaten in Wednesday night's Happy Birthday Taite Stakes it won't be caused by lack of knowledge of the track.

Canya Love Me has box seven in the 520m fifth grade for greyhounds with just one win and trainer Jason Magri is happy with her draw.

He said: "Canya Love Me did all her pre-training on the Richmond track so she knows the place inside out.

"It looks a suitable race for her and if she comes out cleanly and puts her best foot forward she should be winning.

"I do know that if Canya Love Me nails the start like she did in her maiden win at Wenty she will run a blinding first split.''

When Canya Love Me exploded from box eight to win her 520m maiden race at Wentworth Park on October 20 she posted blistering first and second splits of 5.38 and 13.72.

Midnight Stalker boasts far and away the best 622m time of any greyhound in Wednesday's first heat of the GRNSW Middle Distance Series but trainer Mark Farrugia is cautious about the dog's prospects because of his wide box seven draw.

Midnight Stalker has won two of his three starts from box eight but exited box one when he led throughout in a sizzling 35.64 over Wednesday's 622m course on November 8.

Mark Farrugia said: "He will probably be at a short price and I would be far more confident if he had drawn an inside box.

"Midnight Stalker needs to begin smartly to enable him to get to the rails because if he doesn't reach the fence in the first 50m he will stay wide most of the way.

"But if he gets away okay and receives a clear run he will be very hard to beat, it certainly looks a winnable race.''

Hardest for Midnight Stalker to beat could be Charlee's Tommy, who has box three but is tackling a middle distance for the first time.

Charlee's Tommy has been running on solidly in shorter races and on October 18 she led throughout to defeat Midnight Stalker in a Richmond 520m event, covering the trip in a nippy 29.69.

Eker The Wrecker was impressive winning over 401m at Richmond on November 8 and the extra distance of Wednesday's Flying Ricciardo At Stud Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, won't worry him.

Last week Eker The Wrecker led throughout in a slick 22.58, fastest time of the meeting, easily defeating Fahey's Magic, who has won three races at Wentworth Park.

Steve Moran, whose wife Pauline trains Eker The Wrecker, said: "He has already won over 520m at Richmond and he is going great.

"But he did have box two last week and he has box six on Wednesday.

"A wide draw is always a worry.''

Zipping Marcia was beaten over four lengths into third place when on debut at Wentworth Park last Friday but her run was a good pointer to her prospects in Wednesday's Ladbroke It! Maiden over 520m.

The unraced Zipping Marcia was sent out a $3.40 favourite at Wentworth Park but her prospects were ruined when she stumbled and went down on her nose as she left the starting boxes.

Under the circumstances, her effort to finish third behind the far more experienced Archer Fly High and Boston Banner was full of merit.

Best Bet Canya Love Me (race 4)
Best Value Eker The Wrecker (race 10)

Quaddie
Race 5 - 3, 7, 5
Race 6 - 7, 3, 6
Race 7 - 7, 8
Race 8 - 1, 5, 7
$20 for 37.03%