QUALITY dog Good Odds Demon bounced back from a shock defeat at Devonport with an emphatic victory in a strong grade four event over 461 metres at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last night. The Shane Whitney-trained dog began well from box six and after crossing down to the rails he sped clear. Designer Rush moved alongside him just after rounding the top turn and looked set to forge clear entering the home straight.
But Good Odds Demon answered the challenge by kicking clear and he went on to defeat Designer Rush with Miss Somebody a distant third. Good Odds Demon was sent around a $1.40 favourite at his previous start at Devonport but Whitney said it was understandable given the dog lost sight of the lure.
“There is no doubt the lure got away from them turning for home and it was his first look at the track so I wouldn’t read too much into that run,” Whitney said. Good Odds Demon is destined to return to Melbourne to tackle a grade five heat and final over 600 metres which Whitney believes is his best distance.
It was a mixed night for the Whitney kennel in Hobart as his two other runners had their colours lowered. Arome Peche looked set for another win when he held a commanding lead turning for home in a grade three event over 461 metres. But he was swallowed up by the first reserve Lou James for the Margaret Rossendell kennel.
Lou James was fresh from a six-week break but made light of his task. The son of Nitro Burst was only fairly away from box seven and settled near the rear but he managed to avoid trouble and work to fourth at the top turn but still spotted the leader and favourite four lengths turning for home. But he gathered in Arome Peche quickly and went on to defeat that dog by two lengths with Painted Dotty running on hard for third.
Whitney’s other runner Pa Glass was sent around a short priced favourite in a maiden only to again leave the money in the bag. Pa Glass was heavily backed to win on debut a week earlier in Hobart over 340 metres but had to settle for second to Outside In. But at this latest outing the dog began fairly from box two but was shuffled out to last and that’s where he stayed.