Hello Mike Gets Golden Draw In Bullion Hunt

TRAVIS Elson's hopes of winning the Group 1 Gold Bullion were given a huge boost when kennel star Hello Mike drew the rails in his heat on Thursday night.

But, Sunshine Coast-based Travis is anything but confident going into the race.

Hello Mike (Fernando Bale-Hay Cyndie) at 29.49 is the quickest dog in the heats of the Gold Bullion, a time he ran only four starts back on December 15 when drawn the two box.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

He then won in top grade off the rails in 29.72 beating Thursday night rival Shipwreck by almost seven lengths.

But, in two starts since, Hello Mike has drawn off the track and, as Travis explains, didn't cop just one bump early, he got bashed throughout both those races.

“He is a real confidence dog and he had absolutely no luck at his past two starts,” he said.

“I cannot say what his confidence is like now.”

Shipwreck was third to De Ferran in a heat of the four-dog Golden Ticket two weeks ago and then backed up in a top grade for seventh to He's On Fire.

Albion Park Thur Aug 18 2022
Molly Campbell Silver Dollars Ht 1. 520m
1st – Box 2 Hello Mike – Cyndie Elson
2nd – Box 1 Hara's Herbie – Jemma Daley
3rd – Box 5 Hara's River – Jemma Daley
4th – Box 8 Scintillate – Jedda Cutlack
30.00 (5.59 – 11.67 – 12.74) 8 x Neck pic.twitter.com/26YBvkBB3q

— John Brasch (@Bunny_Brasch) August 18, 2022

He was beaten eight lengths at his latest start.

“Honestly, I don't know where he is at,” said Travis.

“His confidence was destroyed the past two weeks.”

But Travis does have hope for Hello Mike with normally moderate beginner Shipwreck drawn outside him in the two.

“His (Shipwreck's) past couple of runs have seen him come out a lot better and run fairly good first sections,” said Travis.

“But those were in a four-dog race and then a two-dog match race.

“Thursday night's heat is full of pressure for Hello Mike.”

Also in the heat is speedster Panama Canal who has won his past two at Albion Park out of the Tony Brett kennel.

Double delight for Hopkins

PANAMA CANAL and ONE'S OBSESSION did not let favourite punters down at Sale.

Who backed both of these greyhounds to win?#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/Hk8YJP8Tla

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) September 19, 2022

“There is a lot of early pressure in the heat,” said Travis.

Nominations for the Gold Bullion were extended and Travis said he contemplated running Bear's Bullet in the series as well.

The Fernando Bale-Mumma's Hope bitch won a 5th Grade heat and final the past two Mondays running 29.99 in the final.

“She made the final of the Futurity three runs back but was run off on the first turn,” said Travis.

“I'm having no luck at all in big races lately.”

Bear's Bullet has won six of her 10 starts, three of the wins under 30-seconds at Albion Park.

Six heats of the Group 1 Gold Bullion will be run as will two heats of the Group 3 Gold Cup over 710m.