An enormous heat win by Orson Allen could prove the perfect stepping stone ahead of greyhound racing’s Group 2 Triple M Bendigo Cup (425m) on Friday night.
Victory in the $67,000 final would be the biggest win yet for young trainer Correy Grenfell.
“He ran a huge race. It was great to see that he could come from mid-field to beat a quality field,” said Grenfell, pictured above with Orson Allen after his heat win.
“We know he’s got early pace. He showed that on debut at The Meadows when running 5.00sec to the first section and 17.63sec down the back. That’s the quickest second section a maiden has ever run at The Meadows.”
Grenfell also trains group class stayer, Dyna Chancer, but believes Orson Allen will eventually become the better of the two.
Despite having just 12 starts to his name (seven wins) and drawing the potentially awkward Box 4 in the $47,000 to-the-winner final, Grenfell said Orson Allen is in with a realistic chance.
“He’s the baby of the field and he’ll need to begin well. But if he’s within striking range in the home straight he’ll be coming home hard,” he said.
Grenfell, who is based in the Geelong suburb of Avalon with fellow trainer and partner Samantha Ferguson, said winning the Bendigo Cup would “help set us up for the future”.
Orson Allen ran a stunning 23.686sec in his heat, the second fastest of the eight heat winners, inferior only to Big Flood (23.642sec) by less than one length.
