In Brief
- Tasbred Bonus Final highlights the 10-race program.
- Granola looking to continue its recent form improvement.
- Winklee Ghost rated a strong hope from box 8.
In-form local sprinter Granola will look to enhance its recent form reversal when lining up from box 2 in the Tasbred Bonus Series 43 Final (461m) at Ladbrokes Park in Hobart on Thursday night.
The Debbie Cannan-trained daughter of Barcia Bale and Emerald Lee couldn’t have been more impressive with a strong heat win last Thursday, coming from out wide in box 8, the black chaser notched up her fourth career victory to date.
Granola recorded 26.19 seconds while holding both Blazer and Whiskey Woman at bay to score by 4-1/2 lengths.
She then backed up four days later in Launceston to finish a well noted fourth behind Bank Book.
Trainer Debbie Cannan reported that two monkey muscle injuries have been the setbacks to Granola’s long absence from the track.
“I’ve purposely looked after Granola hoping that the spell due to injury would help her mature,” the trainer said.
“It was great to see Granola bounce back for a win last week doing wonders for her confidence, our main goal at the moment is to take one race on as it comes, when the time arrives, we would definitely like to breed a litter from her.”
Debbie Cannan has enjoyed a phenomenal run of success from the Emerald Lee progeny, having obtained over 162 winners from four litters sired by stud dogs such as Razldazl George, Collision, Where’s Pedro and Barcia Bale.
On paper there looks to be strong opposition for the Grade 5 Final with other rivals having bold winning chances.
Jalla General, from the supreme kennels of trainer Nathan Gittus, also displayed a brilliant return to winning form taking out the other heat from box 6 last Thursday when she downed Winklee Ghost and Eternity in the process.
Setting the slick time of 26.13 seconds, Jalla General brought up her fourth career win from 23 race appearances.
The daughter of My Bro Fabio will jump from box 5 in the fourth race and is the $3 favourite with Ladbrokes.
Winklee Ghost, for trainer Ted Howard, holds respect in its effort behind Jalla General last week when finishing second to the eventual winner and has been kept safe in the betting at $3.80.
It’s an open market at the top with Jalla General, Granola ($3.50) and Eternity ($3.80) all below $4 on race morning.
Cannan believes and outside draw would have aided Granola’s chances though with the right run luck can play a big part.
Recent box draw statistics show that Granola is capable of handling box 2 having won two from four wearing the black and white stripe vest, with solid wins at both Devonport (452m) and Hobart (340m).
The Mangalore-based kennel of Debbie Cannan can achieve a winning double according to favourite punters, with upcoming sprinter Red Titan out to overlook his recent unplaced effort when lining up from box 2 in the seventh event.
Jumping from an inside draw Red Titan is the $1.45 favourite looking to make it two wins over the 461-metre trip.
With the regular Launceston greyhound meeting this coming Monday night (22 February) transferred to the south, Hobart will inherit a one off fixture and again race on the following Thursday night, hosting the Damsel’s Dash feature.
Thursday night’s Hobart greyhound meeting will commence at 19.37, with races 1-3 broadcasted on Sky Racing 2 and the remainder of the program on Sky Racing 1. All 10 races will be live streamed on TasracingTV.
Watch Granola (box 8) take out a heat of the Tasbred Bonus Series 43 last Thursday.