Egg Bound Elson To Fire Richmond Oaks Shot First

SUNSHINE Coast trainer Travis Elson heads to Richmond for the Oaks heats on Friday night with classy Bear's Bullet but it is her travelling companion Hello Mike that could take the spotlight during the trip.

Bear's Bullet (Fernando Bale-Mumma's Hope), a last start 29.79 winner at Albion Park, has drawn the seven in a tough Richmond Oaks (520m ) heat and comes up against Group 1 winners Wyndra All Class and Embrace and a host of high class rivals.

FIELDS AND FORM RICHMOND FRIDAY NIGHT

But, her appearance at Richmond was an afterthought for Travis who is preparing Hello Mike (Fernando Bale-Hay Cyndie) for the upcoming G1 Golden Easter Egg series at Wentworth Park.

Hello Mike comes off victory two starts back in the Group 1 Gold Bullion at Albion Park. He has a 29.49 win to his credit at Albion Park, the fourth fastest ever run there.

2022 QGOLD Rookies Final 520m

1st: Bear's Bullet (1) – 29.98
2nd: Smoking Sam (6)
3rd: Lost Signal (2)#QLDisRacing@RaceQLD @tabcomau @SkyRacingAU @GerardDaffy @Bunny_Brasch @SEN_track @MMcInallyPhotos pic.twitter.com/c7GAwVvyny

— Brisbane Greyhounds (@BrisGreys) December 8, 2022

Travis will stay with John and Jane Carruthers while in Sydney.

He will give Hello Mike a post to post at Wentworth Park on Saturday night and then trial him from the boxes the following week.

“I spoke to John about coming down to trial Hello Mike and he mentioned he had a bitch in the Oaks at Richmond on Friday night,” said Travis.

“I watched the nominations in the morning and even up to five minutes before it looked like they might have only two heats.

“So I tossed her in for the trip.”

But Travis has no doubts Bear's Bullet is one of the very best greyhounds he has prepared.

HELLO MIKE – HELLO GOLD BULLION ?

With grit and determination the Travis Elson-trained chaser Hello Mike launches up the inside at the final turn to snare the $375,000 Group 1 Gold Bullion! What a win ?@BrisGreys pic.twitter.com/L7ovc4Ajx9

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) February 2, 2023

She has won the QGOLD Rookies and been a finalist in the Group 2 Queensland Futurity.

“She is a real race bitch,” said Travis.

“If it was any other bitch, I would not contemplate ever going down there first-up.

“She is not a bitch you can even preview before a race.”

Hello Mike has won 10 of his 26 starts and earned $308,000.

He has also won a New Years Trophy at Albion Park, been third in a QGOLD Mixed and a finalist in the Silver Dollars.

But he has been a huge improver in the past six months and his come-from-behind win in the Group 1 Gold Bullion was at the expense of a class field.