In Brief
- Rusty The Crow leads Stocks trio in race four.
- Plenty of short price favourites across the 10-race card.
- First meeting with new prizemoney increases.
Risdon Vale trainer Robin Stocks plays a strong hand in Thursday night’s fourth race, The Mercury Mixed Fourth and Fifth Grade over the middle distance of 599 metres in Hobart.
Three of the seven runners are prepared by Stocks, with two of his kennel representatives last start winners.
Rusty The Crow (Box 4) has won two of his last four starts including a win over the 599 metres last week where he used box one to full advantage to lead and was never in doubt to score by 5.5 lengths in 34.34s.
The My Bro Fabio – Raven Pearl dog, has had three tries from the blue box in the past for a win and two placings and opened up at $4.20, on the third line of betting.
Hi Sky has drawn box two but does have a vacant box to his inside with the scratching of Zebs Ladies.
Three of the four wins for the Fernando Bale – Merinda Hannah bitch have been from the two inside boxes, including a win in Launceston last Monday week over the 600-metre trip.
From box two on that occasion, Hi Sky began well to settle in second position before getting up underneath the leader to take the lead off the back to score by 3.5 lengths over Anndar Winx in 35.27s
Sunbound in box seven rounds out Stocks trio of runners.
The winner of four races has been placed in five of his last six efforts including his previous two efforts over the middle distance in Launceston and Hobart respectively.
The main dangers for Stocks’ trio include Twisted Reality (Box 8) who won the Greg Fahey Mid Distance Championship three starts ago in 34.17s, and Sacred Shadow who was runner-up to Twisted Reality in that race.
There are many short price favourites across the card including Devonport Breeders Classic winner Recall who jumps from box one in race one, Lily Lola in race three, Highland Wonder in the fifth race, Monster Harley in race six, Vintage Fame in race seven and Connected in race eight.
Thursday night’s meeting is the first with a $266,000 stake money increase for Tasmanian greyhound racing with all races across the state being increased by $400.
Watch Rusty The Crow win a Grade 5 event over the 599 metres last week.