Sport Briefs
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday March 12, 2010
Nowra ready to cheer its BoyThere is little sentiment in racing but at Nowra - Greyhound Racing NSW's 2009 TAB Track of the Year - the flying Tasman Boy will be carrying local expectations in Friday's Summer Puppy Classic.The brilliant frontrunner is trained locally by Karen Midson - wife of club secretary Glenn - and, having drawn box one, is a live chance in the 520-metre feature.The Midsons, along with a dedicated band of locals, have worked tirelessly to make Nowra a success story, and an all-the-way win (the only way the black dog can get the job done) would raise the roof of their humble grandstand.A rising two-year-old, Tasman Boy has raced only five times for three wins and defied Tuiaki's late burst to win his semi-final on Monday in 30.18 seconds.His winning time was later bettered by Xavier Rex (30.09) but the rails alley gives the local speedster a real chance as it is his pace which sets him apart from most.Tuiaki - a mooted contender in the upcoming Golden Easter Egg - must be respected from box five, but he has brilliant beginner Mighty Elite stationed on his outside which is a real concern.Dana Beatrice back at BathurstGolden Easter Egg winner Dana Beatrice snared the Bathurst Cup en route to her dazzling win at the elite level at Wentworth Park last year, and the Rod McDonald-trained frontrunner is on track to double up at Bathurst next Wednesday.Dana Beatrice won the opening heat of the cup series on Wednesday in typically dominant fashion. Based at Cowra, the black bitch has a real affinity with the Bathurst circuit and held the late-closing Miss Taro in to score in 30.11.Her time proved to the be the best of the heats and the fastest of the day.Last year, Dana Beatrice posted 30.07 in her cup win, accounting for Arthur Ritis by just under a length, and will start favourite to win Wednesday's $20,000-to-the-winner final after drawing box two.Arthur Ritis again looms as a threat after his strong finishing second to Marco Man in heat three.His heat outing was his first in 2010 after an injury-enforced break.The box draw is: 1 Your Show Jake, 2 Dana Beatrice, 3 Spring Casey, 4 Budapest, 5 Arthur Ritis, 6 Miss Taro, 7 Red Eraser, 8 Marco Man.Back-to-back wins at the elite level are rare but McDonald has his star back in top form and next week, the Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg - offering $250,000 to the winner - gets underway. It is time to dream.Plenty of top puppies for saleDapto's annual Country Winnebago Puppy Auction on May 2 promises to be the best.Graduates will race in a $75,000 to-the-winner series in late 2011 and some classy matrons have progeny on offer, including Eluthra, Stylish Scene, Just Friends, Winsome Silver, Bananarama, Arica Bella, Best Quoted, Cool Karen, Miss Grub, Next To None, Our Bette, Token Melody, Camden Shiraz, Chantilly Doll and Micro Lee.
© 2010 Sydney Morning Herald
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