Repeat Performance Expected From Cabramatta Jack

Cabramatta Jack was tackling the Richmond 520m trip for the first time when he won in an "airborne" 29.53 last week and trainer Milo Vodogaz considers him drawn more suitably in Wednesday night's Steeline Riverstone Stakes at the Londonderry track.

Last week Cabramatta Jack jumped cleanly from box six but showed good pace and crossed to the rails to lead at the first turn, careering away to score by 14 lengths.

"Before last week his only experience at Richmond had been in a box-to-box trial,'' Vodogaz said.

"But he has always been able to go quick and in three short slips at Wentworth Park, from the water meter, he has clocked 14.99 every time, which is flying.

"Cabramatta Jack usually comes out with them and then hits top speed after a stride or two.

"He shows plenty of promise but is still puppy-ish and has a lot of improvement in him.

"Marty Hallinan reared him for me and predicted he would be a good race dog because he said as a puppy all Cabramatta Jack wanted to do all day was to run.

"He had box six last week but is better suited in box two on Wednesday.''

Vodogaz bought Cabramatta Jack as a three-month-old puppy for $5000 and the dog is a litter brother to last Friday night's Wentworth Park Maiden winner Brother's Keeper.

Balmerino scored only his second win in 11 starts when he ran down Crockett's Flyer to win in a handy 30sec over 520m at Richmond last week but trainer Brian Tame believes the dog will continue to improve.

Balmerino has box one in Wednesday's Ladbrokes Communities Stakes and Tame said: "He loves the fence so that is where he wants to be.

"If he had drawn seven or eight he would be a risk but I'm rapt seeing him in box one.

"Early in his career he was only average and it took me a while to get him going well but he is firing now.

"So much so that I told his owner Glen McKinley, who lives on the Queensland Gold Coast, that Balmerino could develop into a group dog in 2024.

"Balmerino is not the fastest greyhound in the world but he is a very good chaser and is strong at the finish of 520m.

"He is coming to hand really well now.''

Nangar Luna had no luck when beaten into third place as a $1.28 favourite in last week's heats of the GRNSW Middle Distance Series and gets her chance to atone in Wednesday night's 622m final.

Nangar Luna was trapped outside a wide runner for much of last week's race and finished nine lengths behind the fastest heat winner Two Mates.

Two Mates has a great record over the Richmond 622m trip with three wins and three placings from seven appearances but she has box five in Wednesday's final.

Nangar Luna, who won in 35.78 from box three at Richmond on December 13, has a near-ideal box two draw on Wednesday.

Best Bet Cabramatta Jack (race 4)

Best Value Balmerino (race 5)

Race 5 - 1, 8

Race 6 - 8, 7, 1

Race 7 - 5, 6, 9

Race 8 - 2, 5, 1

$20 for 37.03%