Triple Group 1 winning stayer Sweet It Is has emerged as a $2.50 favourite with TAB fixed odds to win tonight’s Group 3 Bohemia Crystal Sydney Cup (720m) at Wentworth Park given that Ruff Cut Diamond has been scratched from the $34,000 race.
The Victorian pair shared equal favouritism early in the week, however trainer Mick Fearnley has been forced to scratch his up-and-coming stayer Ruff Cut Diamond after she endured a bruised hock during her heat win last weekend.
“I have been working around the clock this week trying to get her right, and I haven’t let her gallop at all during the week just in case she makes it worse,” Fearnley said.
“When you think about it, when Cathy Freeman won a gold medal she wouldn’t have spent the week in bed leading into the race, and this is a bit of a similar scenario. Her preparation has been compromised.”
“Ruff Cut Diamond has time on her side, though, so I’ve just got to be patient and hope she can win a big race down the track.”
Two other Victorian-trained greyhounds are other major chances to snare the $25,000 Sydney Cup first prize, kennelmates Zipping Maggie and Zipping Rory, who are trained by Peter Dapiran and daughter Bethany Dapiran respectively.
