In Brief
- Winklee Hugo chasing first win on Hobart track.
- Trainer expects forward showing by Winklee Kasey.
- Winklee Ghost to make the most of inside box in the Peter Howlett Memorial.
Exeter trainer Ted Howard is confident he can take home a winner from Thursday night’s 10-race greyhound card in Hobart.
Winklee Hugo in the opening race is the first representative for Howard in the Kennel Talk Podcast With Matt And Brennan Grade 6 over 340 metres.
The Ando’s Mac – Winklee Terror dog won in Devonport on 1 September in 25.76s before taking out a qualifying heat of the Breeders Classic on Saturday, defeating She’s It by 11.5 lengths in 25.91s.
Thursday Winklee Hugo has drawn box three, and his trainer is confident of a forward showing by the greyhound who has won two races and placed in 10 of his 20 starts.
“He has drawn well, and I give him a strong show, he is a pretty consistent dog but he needs to get to the rail,” said Howard.
“He is called Hugo cause he is huge,” added the trainer.
Winklee Casey has drawn box two in the second race, the tasracing.com.au Juvenile Maiden over the 461-metre trip.
The bitch who has won seven of her 10 starts and is also a part of the Ando’s Mac – Winklee Terror litter and with her excellent box speed Howard is expecting her to make the most of the handy draw as she goes for a winning hat-trick after wins in Launceston and Devonport.
“She is probably the best of the litter, and she is a rocket out of the boxes, actually they almost all are in that litter and that is why they win as they get in front and out of trouble, said Howard who does have one slight reservation.
“My slight concern is she didn’t go that well in the heat of the Breeders Classic in Devonport on Saturday,” said the trainer about her 6.25 length defeat by Highland Chief.
Winklee Frankie in race three will be looking for his first placing on the Hobart track after four unplaced efforts.
“He has probably drawn a bit too wide,” said Howard about the chaser who has a best time on the track of 19.97s.
While in Thursday’s feature, the Peter Howlett Memorial Grade 6 over the 340 metres Howard puts the polish on both Winklee Ghost (box one) and Winklee Mac in box three.
“Winklee Mac misses the start two or three lengths so I give Winklee Ghost a good chance off the inside as he will likely lead and if he does lead, he should take a bit of beating,” said the trainer.
“If either Winklee Hugo and Winklee Casey don’t win tonight I will be disappointed,” said the Exeter based trainer who’s five runners going around on Thursday are backing up on Tuesday in the semi-finals of the Custom Resources and Recruitment Breeders Classic in Devonport.
Thursday night’s card commences at 19:40.
Watch Winklee Hugo win in Devonport on 1 September.