Apollo Speed a Worthy Thunderbolt Chance

LISA and David Worthy will head out on an 800km, nine-hour trek from Kings Plains to Grafton early Saturday morning with the lure of a possible $75,000 pay day.

They will take with them Apollo Speed (Aston Dee Bee-Hope's A Chance) one of the hot chances in the semi-finals of The Thunderbolt (350m), the world's richest sprint event.

He comes into the opening semi-final, drawn box six, but with a career record of 24 starts for 14 wins, the past seven in succession.

FIELDS AND FORM GRAFTON SATURDAY NIGHT

The trip from Kings Plains to Grafton is nothing new for David Worthy.

He headed north with Apollo Speed last week to trial at the Grafton track heeding club president John Corrigan's warning to non-locals that a trial on the track was a must.

“Johnny could not have been more helpful,” said David.

The Monday morning trial resulted in what Worthy described as “he felt his way around”.

“I was happy with the way he went early and happy he has had a look at the place now,” he said.

“But, he has never been a trial dog and I expect him to go much, much better in the semi on Saturday night.”

David's wife Lisa is the trainer and while she was happy for her husband to make the nine-hour drive for the trial, there is no way she will not be there to handle Apollo Speed in the semi-finals.

“Lisa's son John will look after the kennels at home for us,” said David.

He and Lisa are just happy to be part of The Thunderbolt's inaugural running.

“It is a great innovation by GRNSW,” he said.

“It's like being there for the very first Golden Easter Egg.”

Worthy says Apollo Speed is “jumping out of his skin” in the lead-up to the semi-finals.

“His litter sister, Clare A Chance, has drawn the eight in the same semi-final for Pam Braddon and she is in great form as well,” said David.

“Nothing really worries this dog. And, being drawn off the track might be a great help for him. Watching races at Grafton from the 350 metre start, if you miss it from the inside there is a great chance of being jammed up at the first turn.”

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PREMIER trainer John Dart believes the class runner of the semis, Typhoon Sammy, will be greatly improved by his first run for a month when winning a heat at Grafton last week.

John's wife Glenda prepares Typhoon Sammy for their son Sam.

He had not raced for a month before last week's win.

Box draws for the #Thunderbolt⚡ Semi-Finals at Grafton this Saturday have dropped – who's your pick in each?

Grafton Saturday Fields & Form: https://t.co/PZfg63YvNr#thedogs #greyhoundracing pic.twitter.com/yTFhwIKRaY

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) June 8, 2022

“He will be absolutely spot on for the final,” said John. “He only needs to make it through. But, he's drawn to be right in it.”

Typhoon Sammy has the two box.

Joint track record holder Orson Laurie has the eight in his semi-final for trainer Evelyn Harris and the winner of five of his past six starts is ideally placed.