Switch North A ‘Master' Move For Big Town Hero

BIG Town Hero switches back from Masters racing to a 4th and 5th Grade (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night, the Sandra Hunt-trained galloper coming off a purple patch of form.

And, part-owner Paul Ashworth is adamant the dog's switch to Queensland for an earlier tilt at Masters racing has been a God-send.

“He was originally trained in NSW by George Tyrpenou and raced very well for us,” said Paul.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

“But, it was George who suggested he be switched to Queensland.

“The fact Masters racing is available for dogs three and a half years old, instead of four in NSW, was a big lure.”

Big Town Hero (Fernando Bale-Little Big Town) was bred by Paul and his dad Chris and is raced by them, aunty Trisha, and Paul's mate Mike Dunn.

He has started 81 times for 20 wins and 26 placings earning $116,000.

“Sandra has done a great job with him,” said Paul.

“He was a dog who could not bring his Bulli form to Wentworth Park and he was outgraded here.

“He's been a very good dog for us winning the Easter Sprint and being a finalist in the Golden Oldies.

“And, he was a neck away from making the final of the Group 1 Brisbane Cup last year.”

Biog Town Hero has drawn the two at Albion Park on Thursday night and comes up against a good field of graded rivals.

“He is a semi-reliable beginner and a very hard dog to get past if he leads,” said Paul.

Paul's dad Chris raced the classy bitch Extra Kinky in the early 1980s winning the Young Star Classic, finishing second in the Ladies Bracelet and third in the Vic Peters.

“We bought Big Town Hero's four dam Miss Gable out of an advert in the Greyhound Recorder and have been breeding with the line since,” said Paul.

“She was a Malawi's Prince bitch and his daughters were producing everything at the time.

“We got Girl Crush along the way and she was something but hurt a shoulder as a pup and we never got to see the best of her.

“She went to Bekim Bale and produced the Darwin Cup winner Crocodile Crush and Little Big Town (dam of Big Town Hero) who was a smart race bitch herself.”

Paul sees Big Town Hero being hard to toss at Albion Park on Thursday night.

“The two box is good for him,” he said. “Just lucky he did not draw the rails. He does a hard left when he draws the rails.

“He runs a first section of 5.50 off any box except the one. He runs 5.60 first section from that draw.”

Big Town Hero is in a purple patch winning four of his past seven.