TOP Tasmanian greyhound trainer Ted Medhurst will have half the field in next week’s prestigious Hobart maiden Thousand final following a good result in the semi-finals at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last night.
Medhurst prepared three winners and a second from the four semi-finals and after the box draw his unbeaten dog Groovy Lane is likely to start favourite to win the race over 461 metres next Thursday night.
Groovy Lane won his way into the final with an effortless semi-final win.
The Velocette-Come Over Nova dog began well from box four and after a battle with his kennel mate Spring Fall he crossed down to the rail and went on to score by almost a length from Midnight Bird that chased hard in the home straight.
Groovy Lane stopped the clock at 26.10 seconds which was the fastest time of the night and clearly the best of the four semi-final winners.
Groovy Lane won his Maiden Thousand heat from box eight and the dog has drawn that alley in next week’s final.
Medhurst’s Real Caution won his semi-final with a game win over Arome Peche in a time of 26.52.
Real Caution led most of the way while Arome Peche, prepared by Shane Whitney, chased hard to try and reduce the margin in the home straight but he still failed by almost two lengths.
Medhurst’s third semi-final winner was Homeward that won his Maiden Thousand heat on debut in a time of 26.36 and last night kept his unbeaten record intact and ran almost an identical time (26.37) in defeating Captain Dylan by four lengths with Benzema a length away third.
The remaining semi-final was taken out by the Margaret Rossendell-trained Wee Fire that began well from box two to eventually find the front ahead of Pacha Queen and High Caution with the Medhurst-trainedMysticFalls fourth after checking off heels nearing the top turn.
Wee Fire sped clear and went on to score by over two lengths from MysticFalls that worked home well in the straight.
The final of the Hobart Maiden Thousand carries a stake to the winner of $7000.
Box draw for the Hobart Maiden Thousand final:
1 – MysticFalls.
2 – Real Caution.
3 – Wee Fire.
4 – Midnight Bird.
5 – Arome Peche.
6 – Captain Dillon.
7 – Homeward.
8 – Groovy Lane.
Reserves:
9 – Pacha Queen.
10- Spring Fall