Gayle Masterson, Jason Mackay and Terry Priest spearhead the Hunter Valley's hopes in the heats of the state's richest greyhound race - the $250,000-to-the-winner group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg - at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Masterson, who lives at Hexham and is treasurer of the Maitland GBOTA, puts the polish on in-form sprinter Knight Sprite - one of the early favourites for the series after impressive victories in the Richmond Derby last Friday night and the Gosford Gold Cup earlier this year.
The son of Magic Sprite and Jaydo's Neglect has drawn box eight in race seven and with four wins and three placings from his eight starts in the pink rug looks well placed to progress to next week's semi-finals.
"I trialled Knight Sprite on Tuesday morning at the Redhead Trial Track, where he always does his pre-race preparation, and he went faster than he has ever gone,'' Masterson told Thedogs.com.
"After his Richmond Derby win last Friday night I had him checked out for any sign or soreness and he was given the all clear.''
But Masterson is delighted not only with Knight Sprite's fitness and form but with his box eight draw on Saturday night.
"He loves box eight,'' Masterson added.
His toughest opposition is likely to come from the Jason Thompson-trained Black Frenzy, which comes into the race with a second placing behind Dyna Double One in last week's $250,000 Australian Cup at The Meadows and $75,000 National Futurity winner Cash In Motion.
Richmond Vale mentor Mackay is a prolific group 1 winner and has three runners in Zipping Midge (race three, box five), Zipping Bruiser (race six, box one) and Duna Runa (race seven, box three).
His best prospect appears to be Zipping Midge, which has 29.67 personal best at Wentworth Park. The daughter of Fabregas and Zipping Jewel needs only a clear run through the first corner to be right in this and she is $5 in early betting markets.
Sawyers Gully trainer Terry Priest heads to Sydney on Saturday night hoping his grand campaigner Old Spice can repeat the form he showed in the heats of the Brisbane Cup late last year.
The son of Lochinvar Marlow and Takeover Teddy led throughout in the second fastest of the cup heats and a week later ran fifth in the final behind Dyna Double One after pinging the lids from box two and leading early.
Old Spice has some tough competition in the Jason Thompson-trained Aston Bolero, the Robert Britton-trained Bearville Azza and the the Anthony Azzopardi-trained Asa Hard Knox, but he offers punters good value if he can lead them through the first corner.
