TOMMY AIMS UP AT THE TOP GUN!
Star Sprinter Tommy Shelby will look to become just the third ever WA greyhound to win the Group 1 TAB Top Gun when he exits box one in the time honoured feature from The Meadows on Saturday night.
Lindale Blue was the first Top Gun winner from the West for Trainer Colin Bainbridge in 2002 and Dyna Nalin prevailed for Trainer Paul Stuart in 2013.
Tommy last raced when third in the Million Dollar Chase Final behind Handsome Prince at Wentworth Park on October 16.
Since then he has flown to Melbourne to team up with Caretaker Trainer Kel Greenough in the build-up to Saturday night’s feature.
On Friday morning regular Trainer and Part Owner Steve Withers caught up with the team on Chasing Winners on TAB Radio with the latest on his kennel star.
“Tommy has trialled at both The Meadows and Sandown since being in Victoria and while they weren’t dynamite trials he has never really been a trial dog.” Withers said.
“Race night has always brought the best out in him and we are hoping that will be the case again on Saturday night.” Withers added.
Importantly Tommy has settled in to his new surroundings nicely.
“Kel is really happy with him – he’s adapted to his new environment really well and hasn’t missed a beat.” Withers said.
Box draws are often crucial in any race let alone in the big feature finals and the box one draw may well prove crucial.
“Box one makes a huge difference! Tommy rails really tight and he is happy to shoulder his way through in to a spot so if he steps he should be able to muscle up early and give himself every chance.” Withers suggested.
Tommy has only drawn box one twice in his career for a win and a second but his box two and three record underlines how much he loves the rails draws – from box two, seven tries for five wins and two seconds and from box three he has had four tries for four wins. Overall 13 starts from boxes 1-3 for 10 wins and 3 seconds.
Tommy will need to be at his brilliant best to prevail – he meets a lineup of Stars of the sport including the likes of Simon Told Helen, Shima Shine, Catch The Thief, Tiggerlong Tonk and Christo Bale.
The TABtouch fixed odds market on the race has seen Tommy well supported firming from $3.30 in to $2.90 favouritism. Behind him in betting are Simon Told Helen at $3.10, Shima Shine at $4, Catch The Thief at $8.50, Tiggerlong Tonk at $9, Christo Bale at $15, Oh Mickey at $26 and Golden Night at $34.
It is a huge honour to be hand picked to be a part of The Top Gun – let’s hope Tommy can become the third Sandgroper to etch his name on the TAB Top Gun honour roll.
Speaking of Stars WA’s most talented young chasers will be on show at Cannington on Saturday in three heats of the Young Stars Classic.
The David Hobby trained Sunset Spitfire will be looking to remain unbeaten in race 7 , the third of the heats.
Sunset Spitfire has run best of night times in all seven racenight appearances to this point and heads in to the series with massive wraps.
Other chasers of note to watch out for in the series include Barefoot Tycoon, Oaks Winner Cobargo, Rambo’s Boy and Sunset Toxic out of heat one and Wicked Rhythm, Historic Time, West On Roger, Rapido Lass and Sunset Nuclear out of heat two.
WA’s premier stayer Flake Monelli will go around a hot favourite in the feature event of the night the Canning Show Cup over the 600 metres (race 8).
Flake Monelli has been racing in dynamic fashion over a variety of distances in recent months and is expected to take all the beating over the middle distance journey. Van Buren has emerged as a stayer of great promise in recent times and looks the main threat if Flake Monelli was to come across any hurdles in the run.
With the Canning Show holding stage please note the earlier start time on Saturday afternoon of 3.54pm.
My best bets on the program are race three number seven Star Book, race six number three Historic Time each way and race nine number three Hairpin Trigger.
Go Tommy!
DAVID SHORTTE