Thursday, September 6, 2018
After forward showings in last Sunday’s first round of the Metal Worx Iron Dog (600 metres) at Tara Raceway, three of last year’s finalists in Hit The Runway, Paraphernalia and Cryer’s Plugger now look well placed to line up again in this year’s three-distance series final which will be run over 512 metres on Sunday, September 16.
Hit The Runway and Cryer’s Plugger picked up maximum points last Sunday when winning their heats while Paraphernalia’s three-quarter length second to Aeroplane Mo kept him well and truly in touch.
This Sunday sees Nicole Stanley’s Hit The Runway go into the 400 metre second round having only ever raced once over the distance for a second to Paraphernalia in an Iron Dog heat last year – running, however, a personal time of 22.92 seconds when going down by 1½ lengths in a sizzling 22.83 seconds.
Jeff Guy’s Paraphernalia is unbeaten at his only three 400 metre starts at Tara Raceway while Cryer’s Plugger has raced only twice over the short course for a first and a second for Tom Cryer.
Ballarat trainer Trent Blacker will be after another forward showing from Aeroplane Mo in order to qualify for the 512 metre final, the black dog a winner at Sandown Park over 515 metres but with no short course form on any track.
Noosa Parade – a 390 metre winner at Ballarat and Warrnambool – flashed home last week for a 1¾ length third behind Aeroplane Mo and Paraphernalia, trainer Peter Fulton now looking for the black dog to pinch enough points on Sunday to reach the final.
Actually, Fulton will be hoping for a big weekend, Mick’s Advice a heat winner at The Meadows last Wednesday over 525 metres and now lining up in the $6260-to-the-winner final on Saturday night.
Allendale East trainer Connie Miller is well placed with Kolora Posie after her second to Hit The Runway last week but will need a big lift from her Greyhound of the Year leader Chilly Kiss who will jump from box one in Sunday’s second heat after finishing sixth last week.
Fellow Allendale East trainer David Peckham now holds a strong hand after Blitz And Bolt’s second to Cryer’s Plugger last Sunday. The son of Tara Raceway’s leading sire Cosmic Rumble is unlikely to encounter too many problems with the 400 metre distance nor that of the 512 metre final if he advances, as expected.
In 2017 Paraphernalia led all the way to defeat a fast-finishing Hit The Runway by 1¾ lengths in the Metal Worx Iron Dog final.
And now, twelve months on and some 50 starts later, not only is the 123-start veteran on track to make his second final but also a strong chance of winning his second Iron Dog title.