The Group One Tattsbet Hobart Thousand Heats has drawn together the best of Australia’s champions vying for the right to become this year’s iconic Hobart Thousand Classic winner and being the last Group One of 2012 it will be their last chance to score points for Australia’s Greyhound of the Year.
Proven Maddy for Darren McDonald might start the interstate charge off in Heat One (R2) but locals Dark Warrior and Bearville Phil are capable pups.
Heat Two (R3) looks a clash between the Victorian youngster Maverick Tiger for Kelvyn Greenough and the consistent bitch Nitro Cee for Wayne Vassallo.
Walk Hard (R4) looks hard to beat off the red with last week’s Hobart Thousand Prelude winner Release the Heat next best.
Graeme Bate’s Veyron Bale and adopted Tasmanian Rob Pines for Ted Medhurst look set to fight out Heat Four (R5).
The first leg of the treble (R6) is very open, perhaps Tark’s Legend again off the red to provide value from Graeme Bate’s Joshua.
Tassie’s Champion Rewind (R7) looks hard to beat and it would be fitting to see him make the Final after last year’s nose defeat.
Tassie’s outstanding bitch Emerald Lee (R8) is quite capable of making it to the Final and will be at good odds.
Nolen and Desalle Bale look next best while in the last heat Andrea Dailly’s Garrick Bale (R9) looks hard to hold out with Mick Stringer’s Paua of Darkness and Shepparton Cup winner Blackall’s Boss his main opposition.
Best Bets: R3 No 4 Maverick Tiger, R7 No 4 Rewind, R9 No 1 Garrick Bale.
Best E/W: R2 No 1 Dark Warrior, R5 No 5 Rob Pines, R6 No 1 Tark’s Legend.
Preview by Peter Hayes