Knocker To Make Dash In Golden Sands Pursuit

DAVE Knocker has booked his rush flight to Queensland for Saturday night but will not stay to see Lektra Rhino run in the final of the rich Group 3 Golden Sands (600m) at Albion Park the following Thursday.

Lektra Rhino (Zambora Brockie-Lektra Viki) made his Albion Park debut on Wednesday when leading throughout to win a Golden Sands heat in 34.74 defeating Zipping Alabama by four and a half lengths at the juicy odds of $8.

Dave sent his daughter Kayla Cottrell to Queensland a week ago with Lektra Rhino and the pair settled in at Tony Brett's Grandchester property to prepare for the Golden Sands.

“Kayla put him around box to box and he went great,” said Dave. “I have always drummed into Kayla the importance of trialling on a track.”

Now that Lektra Rhino is in the final, Kayla would trust no one with checking out the dog but her father.

“I'm flying in Saturday night, we will run him up Tony's straight on Sunday and I will check him over for any injury and be back home that night,” said Dave.

Knocker runs a hugely busy breaking in complex in Victoria and trains a small team.

He spotted Lektra Rhino racing and contemplated asking owner Phil Lenehan about training the dog.

Box draw for the Group 2 $113,000 Box 1 Photography Golden Sands to be staged next Thursday night at #brisgreys!#QLDisRacing @RaceQLD @tabcomaumedia @SkyRacingAU @GerardDaffy @Bunny_Brasch @MMcInallyPhotos pic.twitter.com/HO6xbpaiZs

— Brisbane Greyhounds (@BrisGreys) December 28, 2022

“I mentioned to Kayla's boyfriend Jake Loverso who works with us now about approaching Phil to train the dog,” said Dave.

“Jake did the work with Phil and he came into the kennel.

“He's a quality race dog who had already been in the final of the Maturity.”

Lektra Rhino won at The Meadows on December 14 at $10.

“My kennel punter, Mick Deuis, had a good bet on him and even at Albion Park we could not believe he was $8,” said Dave.

“Mick backed up again.”

Group 2 Box 1 Photography Golden Sands Heat 1 600m

1st: Lektra Rhino (3) – 34.74
2nd: Zipping Alabama (7)
3rd: Blue Hornet (6)#QLDisRacing@RaceQLD @tabcomaumedia @SkyRacingAU @GerardDaffy @Bunny_Brasch @MMcInallyPhotos pic.twitter.com/hL3pijwpBB

— Brisbane Greyhounds (@BrisGreys) December 28, 2022

Knocker believes grand veteran Zipping Kyrgios is the one to beat in the final.

“Yes, I know he's not great from a wide draw,” said Dave.

“But he is a class act.”

Jedda Cutlack's Shaye won her heat in 35.04 off the two and has drawn perfectly in the one for the final.

Mick Lalicz's Street Cry went 35.03 leading throughout to win his heat over Milligan.

Paul McIlveen's grand campaigner Sunshine Delight went 35.37 to win his heat.

G3 Golden Sands (in box draw order): 1 Shaye, 2 Milligan, 3 Sunshine Delight, 4 Street Cry, 5 Lektra Rhino, 7 Zipping Kyrgios, 8 Zipping Alabama. Res: 9 Blue Hornet, 10 Captain Bizarre.