In Brief
- Trainer thinks pair will benefit from the run.
- Racing shutdown has been tough on juveniles.
- Rusty the Crow going well for when he can find a race.
Trainer Robin Stocks has warned punters not to expect too much when well-bred litter brothers Bomber Bill and Dave’s Not In make their racetrack debuts in race one Monday in Launceston.
“It’s been a long 12 weeks … it feels like a lot longer,” Stocks said.
“It’s been a very frustrating time for a lot of reasons. It’s disappointing that with the younger dogs we’ve missed a few months of their juveniles. It’s put everyone with young ones out and they’re races you can’t get back. Hopefully it’s something they look at.”
With Monday’s 10-event Launceston card signalling a return to Tasmanian greyhound racing following its 12-week shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, it will be of no surprise if the meeting doesn’t throw up the odd result or two.
“I’m more or less going there tonight to give the two dogs some experience in a field,” Stocks explained.
“They are going okay in trials and running time but tonight’s completely different in a field over 278m.
“I couldn’t tip them with where they are at. In time they will both be looking for further as well. Tonight’s just for the experience; they’ll be a lot better for the hit out.”
Sons of Dyna Double One and Raven Pearl, Bomber Bill (box one) and Dave’s Not In (box three) debut tonight at 22-months of age.
In early markets, each is quoted at $7.5 while the race favourite is Winklee Hugo at $3.1, the son of Ando’s Mac placed at four of his six starts.
“They were ready to get going with when racing stopped,” Stocks said.
“So when trialling stopped as well it really put me back. Bomber Bill is still very green and I’m not sure what he’ll do tonight off the inside. I’ve got a lot of time for Dave’s Not In; if he did everything right he could win but the 278m is a question.
“I think we’ll see the best of them when they get to Devonport and Hobart over longer.”
And while happy to be launching the duo’s careers tonight in Launceston, Stocks couldn’t hide his disappointment after Rusty The Crow failed to gain a start in Hobart this Thursday night.
“They got five nominations for a top grade and decided not to put the race on,” lamented Stocks.
“With racing just coming back we need to get dogs racing and if it was just the five dogs here or there for now I think they should have gone with it. Especially for top grade.
“And the dog is flying too. If we don’t cater for dogs like him now the owner will be forced to move him interstate.
“Hopefully that gets sorted next week if the same thing happens again.”
Watch the replay of race one favourite Winklee Hugo running second at his last start in Launceston.