IN-FORM greyhound Amazing Harry is one step away from making is way into next week’s Minister’s Gift final following an impressive first-round heat win in Hobart last Thursday week.
Amazing Harry, prepared by Terry Ackerly at Summerhill, followed his Gift heat win with an equally impressive victory in a grade five event at Devonport last Tuesday.
From box two in the opening heat tonight (race 5) the son of Give Me Five should only have to step with them and be in the first three leaving the first turn to be able to earn enough points to qualify for a berth in the Minister’s Gift final.
The eight to contest the Minister’s Gift final is determined on a points score basis wit 11 points allocated for a heat win with eight for second and six for third.
Fourth place earns four points and that reduces by on through to seventh (1 point) with no points for last.
Real Caution (6) was second in his first-round heat behind Bailey’s Comet and he looms as one of the main dangers, along with Winklea Rose (8) that was third to Amazing Harry in their heat.
Bailey’s Comet (6), Colonel Cain (1) and Winklea Frank (8) appear top chances in heat two tonight (race 6) while the third of five heats looks a match between Underground (1), the in-form Kirkby Lodge (3) and Lake Hylia (8).
The Gary Fahey-trained Daniel’s Bay should be hard to beat in heat four (race 8) despite starting from box six and in he fifth and final heat Maurie Baba gets his chance to grab a berth in the final if he can win or place from box 7 but should Howzat Grace begin well and be with them turning into the back stretch she should win and earn top points and gain a final berth.
The top eight point scorers from the two rounds of heats will make it into the final to be run over 452 metres at Devonport next week.