Dr. Tucker To Push Great Chase Claims

BILL McMahon has declared Dr. Tucker potentially the best greyhound he's trained ahead of his final Great Chase warm-up at The Meadows on Thursday afternoon.

The hugely talented youngster is a son of McMahon's up-and-coming sire Bernardo which is beginning to make major waves at stud.

And that early success is poised to continue at The Meadows on Thursday afternoon when Dr. Tucker steps out in race six as a red hot favourite following last week's sizzling 7 ½ length winning romp in 30.01.

"Bernardo is the fastest greyhound I've trained but I think in time Dr. Tucker can turn out even better," McMahon said.

"Bernardo was freakishly talented. But injuries just meant we never got to see the absolute best of him. Everything he did was off limited preparations with no work.

"It doesn't surprise me at all the early success he's having at stud. He's a son of Kc And All from the Surfonic line and his litter were all rockets and won 134 races."

Dr. Tucker takes his place at The Meadows on Thursday as the winner at four of his seven starts.

And all things being equal the prodigious talent will line-up in the Great Chase heats at The Meadows next Wednesday.

"He's trialling provincial track record times – that's how good he's going," McMahon said.

"To give you an idea, at 16 months he trialled 29.70 at Sandown on a bog track. His brother Dr. Nathaniel trialled 29.50 the same day. But sadly we lost him to racing a few months back at Sale.

"The entire litter goes very good."

Back in May, Dr. Tucker made his debut at The Meadows, scoring in a scorching 29.91 when just 18 months of age.

But it was the following Tuesday that showed McMahon exactly what he had on his hands.

"I gave him a 440m at Sale and he went 24.41 – the record is Aston Bolero at 24.37," McMahon said.

"That's the times he can run. And he's only improving. The first time I took him to The Meadows he went 30.04; and he's got elite early sections."

Bernardo's brilliant start to his stud career is catching the attention of breeders right around the country.

His progeny have had 187 starts for 46 victories at the top winning strike-rate of 24.6 percent.

And according to McMahon the best is yet to come.

"To be fair Dr. Dawn – the mum of Dr. Tucker – was only average," McMahon said.

"I've got a few litters here and what I'll say about his pups is that they all chase and will win races. I've just broken in a litter out of my Laurels winner Dr. Mino and they look above average as well.

"The phone has been ringing hot lately and as he gets the better bitches he'll only keep getting better results as well.

"He's $1650, we want to keep him affordable to breeders out there."

McMahon ventures to The Meadows on Thursday with a team of eight where Dr. Tucker is the best of his prospects.

"Claydon in race 11 should go close as well – he's another in Dr. Tucker's litter," McMahon said.

"In race four Dr. Mumma should look the winner for a long way. She's got high speed and if there's a bit of trouble and she pinches a break she can get away with that race.

"They're probably the best two with Dr. Tucker."