Blazing heat run hints at Cup form

AN enormous heat win by Orson Allen could prove the perfect stepping stone ahead of greyhound racing’s Group 2 Triple M Bendigo Cup (425m) on Friday night.

Victory in the $67,000 final would be the biggest win yet for young Avalon trainer Correy Grenfell.

“He ran a huge race. It was great to see that he could come from midfield to beat a quality field,” Grenfell said.

“We know he’s got early pace. He showed that on debut at The Meadows when running 5.00 sec to the first section and 17.63 sec down the back. That’s the quickest second section a maiden has ever run at The Meadows.”

Grenfell also trains group class stayer Dyna Chancer, but believes Orson Allen will eventually become the better of the two.

Despite having just 12 starts to his name (seven wins) and drawing the potentially awkward Box 4 in the $47,000-to-the-winner final, Grenfell said Orson Allen is in with a realistic chance.

“He’s the baby of the field and he’ll need to begin well. If he’s within striking range in the home straight he’ll be coming home hard,” he said.

Grenfell, who is based in Avalon with fellow trainer and partner Samantha Ferguson, said winning the Bendigo Cup would “help set us up for the future”.

The couple had a finalist in the 2017 Bendigo Cup — Tiggerlong Cruz — who finished seventh.

Orson Allen ran a stunning 23.686 sec in his heat, the second fastest of the eight heat winners, inferior only to Big Flood (23.642sec) by less than one length.

He has opened up at $12 in the Bendigo Cup, which looks excellent each way value.