John Gray Feature This Thursday Night
One of the first feature races for the year at Angle Park will be run this Thursday night, with the $10,000 to the winner John Gray series coming to an end.
A well-established race on the South Australian Greyhound Racing Calendar, it is a race open to Grade 5 chasers. Last year's series was taken out by the Paul Rehmann trained Razzle Darryle, who ran in the heats last week when attempting to win the race again.
Four heats were staged last week, with the winners being Bobby Axelrod (30.48), Riot Rooster (30.59), Minter Redeem (30.45) and Carton Of Bear (30.48), with all winning times proving particularly quick.
Carton Of Bear was very impressive in his heat win, when proving far too slick for his rivals. It was the black dog's first run for two months, after he joined the car of Kim Johnstone, having displayed ability in Queensland previously.
Having established a prior connection with the dogs owner, Johnstone was sent the dog after he had an indiscretion at his last start at Albion Park. Since arriving, he had a satisfactory trial and a couple of other trials to prepare him for the excellent first up run.
“I’ve trained for the owner for a few years,” said Johnstone
“He had trialed decently over the 400m at Gawler and had the one look at Angle Park on the Sunday, he went box to box.”
“In his satisfactory trial, he got dragged down going to the front and then couldn’t get clear of that dog.”
With no great expectations going into his heat of the John Gray, Carton Of Bear showed that he was right up to his best, with a terrific run. From box five, he stepped quickly to lead in a red-hot 5.19 first split, before clocking 17.77 down the back. The end result was a comprehensive 2.5-length victory in 30.48.
It’s a terrific final that has been drawn and Carton Of Bear has come up with an awkward box four. If he is to win, then he will need to repeat his early speed that he showed in the heat,
“I think if he can hold the lead he has a chance but there’s plenty of pace and he will have to be on his best box manners,” said Johnstone
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Away from the John Gray feature, we will see three heats of the Adelaide Greyhound Racing Club Grade 6 series.
Always popular amongst local trainers, these series are notoriously difficult to win and that will be the case against, with three even heats drawn together.
Murray Bridge-based trainer Damien Smith has got his dog Special Herbs racing in good form at the moment and he will be looking to continue that form when he lines up in the third heat of the series.
Since returning from a spell, Special Herbs has been racing well and consistently showing good early speed. His 6 runs back from the spell have resulted in three wins and three placings, which has been quite pleasing for Smith.
On Thursday, he will line up out of box two and with limited early speed around him, he will get his chance to find the front. Smith thinks he can run quick enough to win if he lands in front, but is worried by the fact that he hasn’t been showing as much early speed at the Angle Park circuit.
“He’s going okay, I think he will run 30.80 out in front.” said Smith
“He just hasn’t really jumped back there (Angle Park) yet. Late races haven’t been helping him.”
Racing will get underway at 6:40pm local time.
Best Bet: Victa Marli (Race 4, Number 4)
Best Value: Immense (Race 12, Number 4)