Stuart’s All Star Four
21 October, 2015
Greyhound
Paul Stuart will be represented by an awesome foursome of chasers in the Group 2 All Stars Sprint (490m) at Tabtouch Park Mandurah on Friday and the Nambellup-based trainer can’t determine which racedog is his best chance.
Stuart’s fab four are Tureaud (box one), Romeo’s Comet (box four), Astrophysic (box seven) and Tiggerlong Await (box eight).
“The honest truth is that I really couldn’t pick one in front of the other,” Stuart said.
Tureaud is the most naturally talented of the quartet but even with the benefit of the pole he may not jump as the punter’s elect.
He was regulated into second place in his heat which continued his recent run of mixed form and the greyhound is yet to fully capitalize on the potential he showed earlier in his career when he marched to victory in his first six starts.
“He’s been frustrating,” Stuart admitted regarding Tureaud’s up-and-down results.
“He’s my favourite and the fastest I’ve got but he seems to alternate between going really good or finding trouble.”
Stuart believes that Tureaud is still searching for his best following a paw injury in the middle of the year and indicated that the dog had been freshened up for the race with a light preparation.
Astrophysic, like Tureaud, is due to land a big feature race sooner rather than later but unlike his kennelmate Astrophysic has had a very different lead up the All Stars final.
The speedy dark brindle has ripped out a superb strike-rate on the Peel circuit with 34 wins from 47 starts and his all-the-way victory from a wide draw last week gave further indication that he can win from anywhere on his night.
“We call him ‘ADD’ around the kennel because he just loves being active and loves work,” Stuart said of Astrophysic.
“Racing week to week isn’t really enough for him and he when gets to the track he goes off his head he loves it so much.
“The trick with him is to keep him mellow and that has required a bit more attention during the week.
“So while we’ve taken it easy with Tureaud we’ve poured all that work into Astro.”
“He showed last week that he can come out airborne and if he can do that again he’ll be hard to beat.”
Although less prominent than the other two dogs Stuart is confident that Romeo’s Comet and Tiggerlong Await will have a role to play.
Romeo’s Comet, the converted stayer, has thrived since dropping back to the 490m journey.
The fastest qualifier of Stuart’s team after clocking 27.51 in his heat Romeo’s Comet has won his past three starts and is “racing with super confidence”.
“He’s not draw too far out and he’s strong so if he finds the rail he can make his presence felt,” the trainer said.
We are yet to see the best of Tiggerlong Await here in WA but Stuart is quick to stress that the greyhound is “on the improve”.
“If Astro jumps he’ll get a good cart into the race,” Stuart said.
“He’ll need a bit of luck but he’s not without a chance.”
Stuart identified WA Sprint Championship winner Nero Bolt as well as the quick launching Mike The Knight as the biggest threat to his designs on the silverware.
Nero Bolt rebounded into form with the fastest heat run on 27.46 but the Nick Minutillo-trained chaser isn’t suited from the lemon in the final.
Field for the Group 2 All Stars Sprint (490m)
1. Tureaud
2. Mike The Knight
3. Peloton Bale
4. Romeo’s Comet
5. Nero Bolt
6. Joker’s Wild
7. Astrophysic
8. Tiggerlong Await
1st Res. Stangafied
2nd Res. Deadly Boy
James Broadhurst
Greyhounds WA