Hooked On Scotch Sets Speed Star Pace

AFTER Hooked On Scotch was beaten into third in a heat and final of the Warragul Vic Breeders Maiden last month, his trainer Jason Thompson told the Recorder that in six months time we'd look back and say "how the hell did that dog get beaten in a maiden?"

Well, he was right. In part.

But it's only taken six weeks not six months to reach that conclusion after the superbly bred youngster shot to the top of the Speed Star leader-board with a breathtaking 29.09 Sandown Park victory on Sunday afternoon.

To give the 13 ¼ length demolition even further context, Feral Franky trialled in 29.25 to launch into second in Speed Star rankings, while Cabin Fever whisked around in 29.32, assuming eighth position at the current juncture.

But back to Hooked On Scotch.

Before the son of Barcia Bale and Nicki Fields debuted at Warragul in early July, word was the fashionably bred sprinter was showing more at the pre-training stage than his Group 1 winning superstar older half-siblings Poke The Bear and Out Of Range.

Sunday's stunning performance suggests that bold assessment was in all likelihood spot on.

With a massive program of Speed Star racing fast approaching on Sunday, September 15, some very interesting trials are penciled in for the coming weeks, including NSW star Zipping Truvy, set to step out over the 595 metres this Sunday to launch her Speed Star claims.

*************************

IT was a big weekend for trainer Dave Geall.

On Friday night, the Melbourne Cup winning trainer received the Ned Bryant ‘Silver Fox' award at the Victorian Greyhound Of The Year gala dinner, while at Healesville on Sunday the Lara conditioner landed a winning treble, courtesy of Untold Soldier, Fernando Drums and Emerald Rainbow.

As if that wasn't enough, Kinloch Moss scored at Sandown Park on Sunday as well, capping off a memorable – and well deserved – weekend for Dave and wife Rose.

*************************

IF there was ever a walking advertisement for the success of Masters racing look no further than Blabba Mouth.

Prepared by Cheryl Murray, the royally-bred five-year old notched up a 23rd career victory at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, posting 30.33 … his zest for racing a testament to Cheryl's training capabilities.

A son of Magic Sprite and former Group 1 winner Cindeen Shelby, Blabba Mouth has won five of his past seven appearances in masters' grade at headquarters, the two defeats resulting in quite tidy seconds.

With the $100,000 to-the-winner Masters Meteor fast approaching, look for the evergreen sprinter to play a strong hand in the series.

In his rich vein of form, he'll be in and around the money. He always is!

*************************

THE Ladbrokes Gardens 272m start has had a fair bit of activity of late with the recently established 15.54 track record equalled at Friday's program.

Only a few weeks back, unbeaten youngster Bedazzled Babe scorched over the course to set a new time-standard of 15.54, while on Friday, Darryl Thomas' exciting sprinter Rockin' Georgia returned from three months on the sidelines to post the same time in eye-catching fashion.

The very talented daughter of Collision and Cop A Sling holds the Gosford 388m time-standard at 21.85 and given the manor of Friday's success, it's more than likely not the last short-course record she'll have beside her name.

*************************

HEATS of the Group 2 Sires On Ice Black Top take centre stage at Ladbrokes Gardens this Friday.

Some hugely talented sprinters are set to take their placing in the $40,000 to-the-winner series, which will include the comeback to racing of freakishly talented sprinter Beast Unleashed, the son of Barcia Bale last seen way back in January when annexing the Group 2 Gosford Gold Cup.

He's on song for his racetrack return. It promises to be an outstanding card of racing.

*************************

THE task ahead of Tornado Tears' rivals in Saturday night's Group 1 National Distance Championship at Cannington looks to have become an even more daunting proposition after a track record breaking trial on the weekend.

Having his final hit-out in preparation for the $75,000 to-the-winner Distance finale, the superstar son of Fernando Bale confirmed his title defence was right on track, powering over the Cannington 600 metre journey in 34.46, .03 under the current record.

In other trials, Queensland's National Distance hope Miss Gingin posted a tidy 34.74 over the 600 metres, while NZ representative Opawa Hilary clocked 30.44 over the 520m.

Queensland Sprint finalist Silver Stunner posted 29.93 in his 520 metre hit-out in readiness for this weekend's grand finale.