Trainer declares Print is primed

Victorian visitor rapt to draw pink in Hobart Thousand

VICTORIAN trainer Michelle Mallia-Magri celebrated one of her biggest wins when her former classy sprinter Blackalls Boss won the 2012 Hobart Thousand, defeating local star Rewind in a photo.

Blackalls Boss wore the pink vest that night and tonight Mallia-Magri hopes her latest kennel star, Print The Money, can replicate the feat from the same box.

Print The Money is ideally drawn in the outside box and if he can find a way to be in front or handy to the lead entering the home straight she says he will win the Group 1 event over 461m.

“I was rapt with the way he went about winning his heat last week and to record the fastest time [25.7] of the seven heat winners was sweet,” Mallia-Magri said.

“I’m sure there is no stronger dog in the race and that’s why it is so important that he begins well from that draw.

“He has really good natural speed and he will run a straight line from the boxes, which is why I was rapt when he drew the pink.

“Out there he should miss any trouble and provided he can muster enough speed to drop down to the rail I’m very confident they won’t catch him.”

Print The Money won his heat starting from box five and it was the way he ran a straight line to the top turn before easing down to the fence to take up the running that impressed most.

Blue Gum Hill also impressed in his heat as he missed the start slightly but mustered speed gradually and, when he pounced on the lead turning for home, he quickly put the result beyond doubt and clocked the second fastest time of 25.74s.

From box two Blue Gum Hill should make his presence felt and if victorious he would give Victorian trainer Robert Britton his third success in the race after winning with Above All in 2014 and Prankster in 2009.

The favourite in early markets is Kouta Mayhem, from the Jason Sharp kennel, but many believe drawing box one has made him a false favourite.

Tasmania’s best winning chance is the Shane Whitneytrained Two Bills (box three), who has won four of his past five starts on the Hobart track and goes into this final on the back of an outstanding allthe-way win in his heat from box five.

The first prize is $75,000 and it is the longest standing feature race in Australia.