BOLTON MAIN HOPE FOR CUP
TRAINER Steele Bolton carries the hopes of Winnellie Park in the Ladbrokes Group 3 Darwin Cup on Sunday night.
Race seven on the 11-race program is the big one, with Bolton having four of the eight runners, with his classy bitch Myrtle Monelli his leading contender after running the quickest heat time last Sunday.
The daughter of Hecton Bale has won eight and placed three times in her 13 starts at Winnellie Park over this distance, so she is well accustomed to racing well at the track.
She will be supported in the final by kennel mates in On Pursuit, Coffee Run and Misdemeanor.
When quizzed about their chances, Bolton said: “Clearly Myrtle Monelli is my best hope. She will need some luck early but if she gets that, can be really competitive against all the runners in the race.
“All my other dogs in the final will find this a big ask, although Misdemeanor is a promising stayer in the making and we have high hopes for her moving forward and she could be our No.1 cup contender next year.”
Local young trainer Harry Brown has Lucky Lance in his care. He has come up from NSW and jumping from box one after his heat win he could prove to be the surprise packet in the race.
The three interstate greyhounds include Starlight Gina, for James Jeffries, and she will need to improve on her heat run. However, the Jedda Cutlack-trained Showdown and the Margaret Hepple-trained Manzu have outstanding form lines and on paper look more than capable of fighting out the finish.
There is plenty of other quality action on the night, including the Cup Consolation, where more visiting greyhounds in Little Bit Luxe for regular visiting trainer Stephen Whyte, Shaye from the Cutlack kennel and also Mick Flash for Jeffries can figure in the finish.
Notable chances across the program include Muskeg in race three for Graeme Ferns, the aptly named Beer Bandit in race eight for team Bolton, while to round out the night Repeat Dose is capable of getting the job done for Jamie Hosking.
The gates open at 4pm, with the first race at 6.17pm.