By MICHAEL FLOYD
GREYHOUND racing’s staying ranks look as strong as ever following four excellent heats of the Grade 5 series at Sandown Park last Thursday.
Aeroplane Eddie was the only greyhound to lead his heat from start to finish, but had to pull out all of the stops to hold off the fast finishing Lektra Grey in 42.31.
Trained by Brooke Ennis in Lara, Aeroplane Eddie began well from box two to hold his position on the rail and lead the field through the first turn. The brindle chaser looked a clear winner until Lektra Grey made its move, finishing only a head short of victory.
The fastest heat win went to track specialist Newfire Riley, registering an impressive win in 42.10.
The Peter Goold trained chaser made a poor start from box one, however soon made his way through the field to power to the lead, surviving a bumping dual with runner-up Dyna Werribee on the home turn before racing to a two-and-a-half-length win. Remarkably, Newfire Riley has now won twice over each distance at Sandown Park.
The night’s opening heat went to Leprechaun Macey in 42.25. The daughter of Melbourne Cup winner Betty’s Angel was shuffled back to last after racing wide at the second turn, however showing the determination that made her dam such a champion, swept around the field to record an impressive victory.
Break O’Day also joined the winner’s list for 79-year-old Max Wintle, coming from worse than midfield at the first turn before racing to a five-and-a-half-length win in 42.13 seconds.
The winner and runner-up of each heat will progress to this Thursday night’s $17,250 final.
Also on Thursday night is the second Melbourne Cup Prelude Series, featuring some of the country’s finest sprinters as they vie for the right to take their place in the heats of the Melbourne Cup on Thursday 14 November, with the $500,000 final to be run a week later on Thursday 21 November.
