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  • Friday, 25 Jan, 2019,
  • by Gerard Guthrie

King’s Eye on Healesville prize

Record-breaking straight track specialist Eye Got It will spearhead Andrew Paraskevas’ potent two-pronged sibling assault on Sunday afternoon’s Kings vs Queens Final (350m) at Healesville.

On the comeback trail after suffering a serious shoulder injury last September, Eye Got It boasts the sensational overall record of 16 from 19, including 12 from 14 over Healesville’s 350m course.

After being sidelined for three months, Eye Got It has returned in sensational fashion, breaking the Healesville track record first-up on December 16, when clocking 18.69sec, and he’s proceeded to win his next five, with four of those successes coming at Healesville.

“He’s come back terrific,” said Cranbourne South trainer Andrew Paraskevas.

“We’re very lucky that he’s come back in such good form.”

Eye Got It’s most recent success was a near-record 18.87sec victory in the Kings of Healesville Final last Sunday, while his litter sister My American Girl, the winner of 18 from 30, highlighted by the Group 3 South Australian Oaks, took out the Queens of Healesville Final in 19.52sec.

Eye Got It and My American Girl (pictured) have drawn alongside each other for Sunday’s Kings vs Queens Final (race 8 at 1.19pm) in boxes one and two respectively; however Paraskevas warns that inside draws aren’t such a great straight track advantage.

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“The inside isn’t a huge advantage at Healesville,” conceded Paraskevas.

“They will both go straight, but if you’d given me a choice I would have taken seven and eight.

“All Eye Got It’s best form at Healesville is off wide draws. He broke the record off seven and most of his fast times have come when he’s drawn wide.

“Eye Got It has a lot on Miss American Girl, obviously. They’re equivalent around the corner but he excels down the straight, for whatever reason. I can’t really put it down to anything.

“It’s a very good field. The seven (Time To Talk) will give it a decent crack. The six (Startron) and the four (Big Sam Marjen) go well too, although the four wants to get off.”

While Paraskevas understandably isn’t looking too far ahead as Eye Got It continues his return from injury, he could soon be eyeing off much bigger targets.

“He’s quick enough and deserves to see what country cups are around,” Paraskevas said.

“Horsham is coming up, although the 485m is probably a bit too far for him. I think he’ll run out 450m but I don’t know if he’ll get any further.

“The only issue since he hurt his shoulder is backing up. At this stage, he’s not going to stand up to racing every week so we’ll treat him with kid gloves and space his races.

“The bitch (My American Girl) has been up for a long time, so she’s due for a spell. I’m planning on tipping her out after Sunday for a few weeks.”

Gerard GuthrieGerard Guthrie

Gerard Guthrie

One of Australia’s leading greyhound racing journalists since 2000 with the Greyhound Recorder and now with Greyhound Racing Victoria. Part-owner 2013 Group 1 Paws Of Thunder winner Sheikha. (The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of GRV)

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