Job Ahead For Barooga Smoke From Horror Draw

BROOKE Ennis believes drawing box eight has put paid to the chances of track specialist Barooga Smoke at Sandown Park on Thursday night.

A luckless fifth in a Warragul Cup heat last time out, Barooga Smoke will jump from box four or wider for the tenth consecutive start on Thursday night, a factor that Ennis believes is starting to have an effect on her charge.

"I'd really like to draw an inside box preferably in the next start or so because he's desperate for the fence," said Ennis.

FIELDS AND FORM SANDOWN PARK THURSDAY

"He's racing really well, he's just been unlucky and I think those box draws are really starting to hinder him now."

Barooga Smoke wins in a THRILLER to bring home the G3 TAB Cup Night Sprint for Brooke Ennis ?

What a night of racing so far… the main event is up next! pic.twitter.com/GbFEyYFMlX

— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) November 26, 2021

Barooga Smoke boasts an outstanding record at Sandown Park, having been placed in all 14 starts at the View Road venue – including two wins at group 3 level – and has also been placed in all eight starts when wearing the pink vest.

However Ennis stated that it was as much about the greyhounds drawn around him as it is the box itself that will make winning for the 19^th time in his career difficult on Thursday night.

"He tends to handle those draws but it's more so what's drawn around him. He doesn't have that early speed – he's a 5.10 dog – and I think the 7 (King Of Calypso) might use a bit of the track which isn't ideal for him.

"We know he'll try, but I can't see him winning from there."

Ennis was more bullish about her other runner, Bop Bop, after drawing box one in race 11.

Bop Bop resumed from a three month lay off with a solid second placing behind Three Wishes last Thursday night despite drawing box eight.

"I thought he was a really good run," Ennis continued.

"He's drawn ideally – he really wants the fence – so it's nice to come up with the red draw.

"I think it's probably a race he can win, he'll be better for the run anyway, he should hold the fence early and hopefully can push through and hold off the others."

Best bet: Levitation (race 7, number 3)

Value bet: Weblec Hawk (race 1, number 1)

Quaddie: 12 / 1248 / 23 / 23568 = $50 for 62.5%