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  • Friday, 02 Apr, 2021,
  • by Gerard Guthrie

Wheels up for Bendigo Gold Rush

Astute trainer Kel Greenough was on the money when he advised owner Tyrone Whittington to purchase a pup from Group winner Zara’s Entity’s first litter.

Whittington bought two pups from the Fernando Bale mating, including unbeaten youngster She’s Got Wheels, hot favourite for Sunday afternoon’s prestigious Jarrod Larkin Concreting Bendigo Gold Rush Maiden final (425m).

She’s Got Wheels could not have been more impressive in setting the pace in both heats and semi-finals of the $10,000 to-the-winner feature, clocking 23.70sec on debut and then a flying 23.56sec in Wednesday afternoon’s semis, romping home by eight and six lengths respectively.

“So far so good,” said Greenough in his typical understated manner.

“She’s always shown ability and hasn’t done much wrong since day one.

“You just wonder whether they will put it together in races and so far she has.

“She ticks all the boxes and I would expect her to run the ‘500’ without a problem too.

“The Bendigo Maiden has a bit of a name and reputation and we had a look at it about four to six weeks ago. She has early speed, which you need at Bendigo, so we decided to give her a crack at it.”

She’s Got Wheels, which will turn two in May, hasn’t been handed any favours with box draws in starting her career in perfect fashion, exiting boxes six and four in the opening two rounds and she’ll again wear ‘blue’ in Sunday’s decider.

“Every time we’ve put her around, she normally begins, she’s normally got good early speed and she finishes off,” Greenough said.

“But she’s drawn box four and it looks like a pretty good field with not a lot between them, so there’s no room for error.

“You don’t really know the opposition until they’ve had a few more starts but so far she’s done everything we’ve asked of her.”

There’s an element of family rivalry in the decider, with Greenough’s wife Jackie training Aston Wise (box 6), which qualified when finishing a soundly-beaten runner-up to her kennelmate.

WATCH: She’s Got Wheels (4) ‘burns the rubber’, clocking a smokin’ 23.56sec Gold Rush Maiden semi-final win on Wednesday.

Greenough trained She’s Got Wheel’s mother, Zara’s Entity, winner of the Group 3 Cranbourne Classic and a Group 1 Adelaide Cup finalist in 2017 and a full sister to another Group 1 finalist in Evie’s Entity.

“Zara’s Entity was a good, handy bitch and I suggested to Tyrone (Whittington) that he buy some of her pups,” Greenough explained.

“So we’re hoping She’s Got Wheels might be as good as her mother.

“Tyrone bought two from the litter. We’ve also got Perfectly Poised, which will start off at Sandown in Maiden heats next week.

“She goes well too but not quite as good as She’s Got Wheels and she doesn’t have the speed you need at Bendigo.”

The Gold Rush Maiden final is Race 7 at the Easter Sunday meeting to jump at 2.04pm.

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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