Healesville put on a show yesterday with eight heats of the Group Three All 4 Paws and Claws Healesville Cup.
Aston Dee Bee opened up the Group Three heat action with a strong win from box seven, stopping the clock at 18.948sec – becoming the first of five greyhounds to break the 19 second mark over the 350 metre distance in the heats.
Although Aston Dee Bee was impressive in the opening heat, it was youngest Peter Galo for Devon Meadows trainer Gerry Selkrig who took time honours for the meeting in just his sixth career start.
Healesville’s race caller for the day Matt Jackson pointed out Peter Galo as a star in the making.
“I was particularly taken with Peter Galo, to win like he did in only his sixth career start shows he is a dog with serious talent,” Jackson said.
“Next week will be a lot harder as he takes on some of the big guns in Victoria.”
Some of those big guns include 2017 Shepparton Cup winner Zinzan Brooke who showed blistering speed to win by 6.31 lengths from box six in a time of 18.899sec.
No one can discount Ando’s Mac thrilling victory in the sixth Healesville Cup heat after he gave away the lead only to storm home to win by 0.84 lengths over My Arizona Room.
“I like Melbourne Cup winner Ando’s Mac because I think he will get the cart across, plus he is a proven big racer performer,”Jackson said.
For the second country cup running Anthony Azzopardi qualified multiple runners in Lucky Chap, who won heat seven and Ando’s Mac.
Healesville regular Ashlee Terry also qualified a runner through to the Group Three Healesville Cup in Burn Like Fire.
Terry also has the first reserve in My Arizona Room.
Our Real Deal for Lyn Smith is the ranked outsider in the $35,500 straight track feature after taking out the eighth and final heat.
Our Real Deal was the highest priced Healesville Cup heat winner for the meeting paying $4.30.
Team Sharp qualified the 2017 Straight Track Champion Kouta Mayhem through to his second group event, after making it through to the Bendigo Cup in early July.
