Local owner/trainer Garry Anders concedes his hometown hopeful Wilbur Deeds will face a baptism of feature race fire in Wednesday night’s Group 2 Warrnambool Cup heats.
Anders, who’s based at nearby Koroit, will test the consistent Wilbur Deeds in elite company for the first time when the homebred son of Oaks Road exits box one in the second of seven Cup heats.
However he hasn’t been handed any favours, with his opposition including Striker Light, Kouta Mayhem and Burn Like Fire.
“Wilbur’s going super and I had the Cup in the back of my mind, so I decided to give him a go at it, but I never expected the field I got!” Garry Anders offered ruefully.
“All the heats are really good fields but there’s five or six exceptional dogs in his heat. He’s got his favourite box but I think he’ll find the going tough. Striker Light is one of the best going around, the pink (Burn Like Fire) has won 23 out of 33 and there’s others too.
“I’d love to see him make the final, being the home town and all, but I really don’t think he’s got much hope. You’ve got to be in it to win it but all I’m doing is hoping.”
Wilbur Deeds, one of only two dogs Anders has in work, has earnt a crack at the Warrnambool Cup, winning six of his 28 starts with 15 minor placings, including a second at The Meadows last Saturday night.
“He won a heat and final at Sandown without ever having trialled there and he’s had two seconds and a third at The Meadows now without having trialled there, so I’m really happy with how he’s going,” Anders said.
