GREYHOUNDS
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday September 25, 2009
Thunder semis ready to rumbleSaturday's Paws Of Thunder semi-finals at Wentworth Park brings together the cream of sprinting talent and the series, worth $100,000 to the winner, looks wide open.The opening semi (race three) features fastest heat winner Cosmic Rumble (box four) against the consistent Boss Number One (one) and Bananarama (three). Cosmic Rumble showed his quality in a near-record 29.64 seconds heat win, but he is not always a good beginner and is likely to trail Boss Number One and Bananarama early.But he is a powerhouse finisher and sits on the second line of betting with TAB Sportsbet Fixed Odds at $6 behind Black Top winner Cindeen Shelby ($5).Cindeen Shelby (box two) and Dyna Lachlan (eight) are the heavyweight contenders in semi two (race six). Semi three is the weakest of the four qualifiers but by no means a simple task for punters. Ken Cheetham's Take The Kitty is the quickest but is stationed in box eight €“ an alley he has never exited in a 32-start career.Semi four is the best contest of the night. Rails runner Excel Like Time will take no end of beating, but he must contend with two quick beginners in Galba Jack and Matching Outcome, which has drawn on his immediate right.Then there is Clark No Ee (box six), Maitland 450m record-holder Accounts (seven) and proven big-race performer High Earner (eight).The Paws Of Thunder might be the main fare, but group 2 Sydney Cup heats make Saturday's Wentworth Park card one of the most appealing at the track in many years.Goodesy may earn Topgun inviteStar youngster Goodesy looks to maintain his unbeaten record at Richmond on Friday.The black dog had his first look at the Richmond track on September 18 and landed win six by a massive 11 lengths in a near-record 30.33.His effort was all the more commendable given he bettered the 15-second mark (14.97) for the final section at Richmond. Goodesy will come up in discussions when the Topgun selection panel convenes on Sunday, and a track record at Richmond would liven up discussions.WA bitch has tongues waggingShe is yet to be tested beyond grade-five company at Cannington over 530m, but Monique Monelli has attracted plenty of interstate attention.The strong-finishing daughter of Bond has won three of her past four starts at Perth's premier venue, each after being well back in the early stages, and has stayer written all over her.€śWe received an offer to sell her only a week later but she's not for sale,€ť owner Mike Quinsee said.€śI'm excited about her prospects as a stayer and there are some nice races coming up over longer distances.€ťMonique Monelli turns two next month, and by the time the Australian Stayers Invitation rolls around (December 19) she will be seasoned enough to be tried against the best stayers in the land.And into the New Year, trainer Dave Hobby may rack up plenty of Frequent Flyer points with the dog.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
