Tobin's Black Top Starring Role

TORONTO trainer Peter Tobin is taking a glass half full approach to Star Hotel's herculean task in Friday night's Group 2 Black Top heats at Ladbrokes Gardens.

"At least I'll be able to have a bet on him Friday night – he's been too short every other start!" Tobin declared.

Not two until November, Star Hotel has enjoyed a spectacular start to his career for hobby trainer Peter Tobin, winning six of his 11 starts with a further three placings.

"His best asset is his early speed and he'll need it in that race Friday," Tobin said.

"When the fields came out a mate of mine called and said ‘have you seen the race you've struck?' As soon as he said that I knew it must have been strong and he wasn't wrong.

"But whatever happens it will be a good experience and if he comes out and leads he'll give himself a chance – his run home times are gradually getting better too."

Star Hotel is a son of first season sire Aston Dee Bee and Tobin's successful producer Hurricane Beccy.

"Star Hotel and his brother Hudson Bolt are the best two dogs I've had – by far," Tobin said.

"I've been thinking about getting out of dogs for about seven years now but there's been one or two dogs around just to keep roping me back in. And now these two have come along … the best thing about them is that they just keep improving."

Sportsbetting.com.au has installed Star Hotel an $11.20 chance for heat five of the Black Top this Friday night from box six with favouritism held by Michelle Sultana's crackerjack sprinter Unison (box three) at $1.90.

In a stacked qualifier of the $40,000 to-the-winner series, Xerri is quoted a $3.50 chance from box four while slashing last start 29.47 winner Chrissie Banner is $7 from box seven.

"It'll test him out for sure but he deserves his chance," Tobin added.

FRIDAY NIGHT FIELDS & FORM

"After the Black Top I'll have a look at the Million Dollar Chase but he's still very young, there's no rush. He's had one go at Wentworth Park and the run was a lot better than what it looked. We had a horrible trip down and nothing went right – he hadn't trialled there either."

Tobin says that if it wasn't for the exploits of dam Hurricane Beccy in the breeding barn he'd have likely been out of greyhounds years ago.

"I bought her from Ruth Matic and as soon as she won at Wentworth Park I'd always planned to breed with her," Tobin explained.

"Her first litter to Fabregas was very smart throwing some really nice dogs but her second litter to Fernando Bale was disappointing.

"For her third litter I went to Aston Dee Bee to replicate the double cross of Bombastic Shiraz and it has really clicked.

"I wasn't going to breed another litter from her but with the way these pups are going we've taken her back to Aston Dee Bee, she was served a few weeks back."

Tobin will be hoping to kick-start Friday night's card on a strong note when Hudson Bolt tackles race two, a heat of the Ladbrokes Red Dog series (400m).

Blessed with searing early speed, Hudson Bolt, winner at six of his 13 starts, will exit box three.

"He's not as strong as Star Hotel so I've kept him to the 400s for now," Tobin said.

"He's always been around two lengths behind Star Hotel but his early speed is exceptional.

"His run home times have been improving as well and in a few months might stretch out over further.

“It's great to have a couple in the kennel showing so much promise. It makes the work that bit easier.”