Whitney puts faith in Two Bills

TASMANIAN grey hound trainer Shane Whitney has longed to lay his hands on a Hobart Thousand winner’s trophy and next week his kennel star Two Bills can move him a step closer to achieving the goal.

Two Bills has won five of his last six starts at Luxbet Park Hobart and next Thursday night he will line up in a heat of the Group 1 Hobart Thousand with victory assuring the dog a berth in the rich final the following week.

On Thursday night Two Bills ($4.40) won the Barry Heawood Hobart Thousand Prelude over 461m and clocked a slick time of 25.85 on a badly rain-affected track.

The dog began well from box four and ran a straight line to the first turn before crossing down to the rail ahead of favourite Aqua Cheetah ($1.90) and his Victorian kennelmate Invictus Rapid ($7.50).

Aqua Cheetah, trained by Seona Thompson, threw out a determined challenge to Two Bills but Whitney’s dog proved too strong and drew clear over the concluding stages to defeat the favourite comfortably.

“I couldn’t be happier with what the dog did on Thursday night and he has come through the race brilliantly,” Whitney said. “He hardly had a blow after the run and it proves he is rock-hard fit and at his peak for the upcoming Hobart Thousand heat next week.

“Every trainer in Tasmania wants to win a Hobart Thousand and with a bit of luck he could realise my dream.”

Two Bills has notched 17 wins and 13 minor placings from 41 starts, with one of his wins coming at Wentworth Park in Sydney in April. He was placed second in Sandown over 595m at his second Victorian start in July.

Two Bills has won four of his past five starts in Hobart and to assist the dog’s stamina Whitney has raced him over the middle distances in Hobart and Launceston with success.

Two Bills is by Spring Gun from China Lady, whose sire is Chinatown Lad, winner of multiple Group 1 races over staying distances in four states.

The winner of each of the seven heats will progress to the final on December 21 with the fastest second placegetter to make up the final field of eight.

The series has 20 interstate contenders, four from the Victorian kennel of Seona Thompson.