Gun Kiwi sprinter Big Daddy had his first look at Sandown Park this afternoon.
He had a handslip trial and set a time of 22.95 (12.68, 10.27) which is considered fast – Free-For-All and beyond.
“I’m really happy with that, the most satisfying thing is that he set a good early section and ran home just as well,” said trainer Anthony Azzopardi.
Although continually gaining fitness and flying, Azzopardi said Big Daddy won’t be a part of next week’s heats of the G1 Harrison-Dawson.
“I’ll give him at least one more trial here which will be out of the boxes, I’ll then nominate him here for a Grade 5. He’s obviously just about ready to go but I prefer to glide him into it rather than have him against the best dogs straight away.”
Big Daddy and kennelmate Postman Pat (with Jason Thompson) were flown to Australia in March. At home they were trained by Tony Hart who has ultimate praise for the pair – click here for the original story by The Greyhound Recorder.
The clear difference between racing in Australia and New Zealand is the catching pen – in NZ greyhounds finish onto the lure at the conclusion of a race. For Big Daddy that hurdle has been overcome.
“He’s trialled at Shepparton and Geelong, the pen was a bit of a shock to him the first time but he handled it ok, the second time he was better and today better again.”
A superb card of racing awaits us tomorrow night highlighted by Hector Fawley stepping up to ‘700’ metres and a clash between Amron Boy and Baby Jaycee in the Free-For-All. Also on the night WA stars Elite Machine and Couch Surfer will trial between races in preparation for the Harrison-Dawson and Sportsbet Sandown Cup respectively.
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