CLASSY greyhound Thirteen Black bounced back to his brilliant best at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart tonight (Thursday) with an impressive win in a heat of the Easter Plate over 461 metres.
The Leigh Wood-trained dog jumped only fairly from box six and settled just worse than midfield while Capetown Annie (7) and Stack Of Tigers (8) vied for the lead out wide with Troublesome Miss making full use of the inside box burrowing up to challenge at the top turn.
Capetown Annie turned in front but when Thirteen Black balanced up in the straight he quickly assumed control and went on to defeat Troublesome Miss by almost five lengths with Capetown hanging on for third almost two lengths away and just ahead of the fast-finishing Yep.
It was Thirteen Black’s fifth win from 10 starts on the Hobart circuit and his 13th career victory from 31 outings.
Posh Di made her way into next week’s Easter Plate final with a convincing win in her heat over Crimson Doll and Reg’s Big Girl.
Posh Di stayed out of trouble from box seven and when the leaders jammed at the top turn she skipped clear and held out the challengers over the final 100 metres.
The other heat Plate winners were the Keith Nichols-trained Nonna’s Girl, that was backed off the map, the Mick Stringer-trained Magpie Lomar and Strong Magic, prepared at Exeter by Anthony Bullock.
The final will comprise the five heats winners and the three fastest seconds.
The two Easter Cup heats were reduced to small fields but the final promises to be a super race.
The first four placegetters in each heat progress to the final and it boasts a lot of class.
High Choice won her heat (2) from Akka Boy and Uno Keysy with Little Spaniard fourth but less than a length from the winner.
The remaining heat was taken out by the Susan Gittus-trained Wattle Weary that led throughout to hold out Sting and the favourite Super Joe Cool with Paragon Star creeping into fourth spot to secure a berth in the final.
Gittus produced the first Easter Purse heat winner in Primitive Cool that led throughout to defeat Posh Mary and Eiffella Jack.
The second Purse heat was taken out by the Glenn Joyce-trained Bank Of Doom that had no trouble in dispensing with his rivals scoring comfortably from Jeannie’s Gift and Kate Johannah.
A litter sister of potential super star Damek named Demetria (Big Daddy Cool-World’s Finest) made a winning debut when she won her Purse heat from Smart Mission and the well backed Crozier Mr. Tee.
The first two placegetters in each Purse heat and the two fastest thirds progressed to the final.