Midnight Dare set for Speed Star


Boom NSW sprinter Midnight Dare raced into Bill Collins Speed Star calculations with a brilliant 29.173 exhibition trial at Sandown Park this afternoon.

Owned and prepared by David and Danielle Pringle, Midnight Dare won her first five race starts before finding no luck in her sixth when unplaced in a heat of the Easter Egg. She was recently transferred to leading trainer Seona Thompson for a tilt and at the Sandown Autumn Carnival, and despite having never previously been to Sandown Park, carved out impressive splits (5.03, 18.83) on her way to second place on the Bill Collins Speed Star leader board.

Ominously, handler Jason Thompson believes there is still more improvement to come from the daughter of Buck Fever.

“We’ve only had her not even two weeks so she’s still settling in and has never been here,” he said.

“She probably went a little bit quicker early than I thought she would have gone, and she perhaps carried a bit too much speed into the first corner so certainly lost at least a length or maybe a length and a half or two lengths. You’d like to think if she ran 5.03 again that she’d get to the back in close to 18.70.

“Speaking to Dave, with what he’s trialled for him and what she’s trialled for us we had no doubt she’d get home in 10.30s or even quicker so her strength is not an issue. It was great to see her go quick early so if she can improve on that second split she’ll be in the mix.”

The Pringles have had many brilliant chasers shine from the Thompson’s world class Awesome Lodge property, including the fastest ever maiden winner at Sandown Park and Speed Star stayers winner Burn One Down. While still early in the greyhound’s career, Thompson believes she has the potential to be one their best.

“She reminds a bit Midnight Elsa who was as talented a dog as we’ve ever had but injuries shortened her race career. I think she (Midnight Dare) is in the same sort of mould – maybe a bit quicker early.

“We haven’t had long enough to assess her, but I think she is as good as their good ones, and when they say they’re good they generally are.”

 

Midnight Dare runs 29.173 in her first look at Sandown Park

 

Ella Enchanted raced into 5th place on the 595m Racecallers Speed Star table after trialling 34.029 (9.28, 23.37).

Ella Enchanted ran second to Tornado Tears in the Speed Star 595 event in September 2018 and with Tornado Tears a doubtful starter in the May series, is set to be among the favourites should she qualify.

Ella Enchanted moves to 5th place in the Racecallers Speed Star (595m) standings

 

Poise also trialled between races going 29.642 (5.06, 19.02) but was unable to move into the top 50.

Poise trials 29.642

 

The 2019 Speed Star match race series will be run on Sunday 5 May. Greyhound qualify for the match races series based on times recorded at Sandown Park since 1 January 2019. The final opportunity for greyhounds to qualify will be on Sunday 28 April with the final fields and matches released on Wednesday 1 May.

Click here for the latest standings.

 

 

Mick Floyd
About Mick Floyd - Mick is the Racing and Media Manager at Sandown Park and has 15 years of experience in the sport. He has a finely tuned talent for finding three legs of a quaddie. You can follow his ramblings on Twitter - @mickfloyd
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