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  • Wednesday, 02 Feb, 2022,
  • by Peter Quilty

Capuano’s ‘Orson’ Oaks?

Self-employed concreter Clint Capuano and his partner Chloe Dew have ‘cemented’ a plan for a $15,000 winner’s purse at Ballarat tonight.

Their sights are set on the prestigious all-female Lil Dickie Oaks (450m) – Race 8, 9.18pm – with litter sisters Orson Emmy (Box 5) and Orson Avery (Box 8).

Orson Emmy, trained by Capuano, is TAB’s $41.00 rank outsider while Orson Avery, prepared by Dew, is an $11.00 chance.

Capuano says Orson Avery, a winner of five races (with four seconds and six thirds) from 30 starts, is “probably our best chance”.

“She’s a good chaser and puts herself into a race in the middle stages.

“And she can also come from behind, she’s reasonably strong.

“She’ll stay out of trouble and won’t ‘crash to the fence’.

“She and her sister did a lot of their pre-training at Ballarat.”

Orson Avery finished third to Impulse Buy in the Mepunga Oaks at Warrnambool on January 20.

And they renew acquaintances again, with Impulse Buy (Box 7) a $2.00 favourite ahead of Aston Tango (Box 6) at $2.20.

However, Capuano is not as buoyant about Orson Emmy, which has won five from 29 including four at Healesville.

“She’s just returned from a season… She doesn’t come out all that well, but she has a ‘motor’.

“She’ll stay out of trouble and won’t ‘crash to the fence’.”

 

“I think she’ll be a nice 600-metre type… But Impulse Buy shouldn’t get any bother early from our pair.”

The Aug ’19 ‘Orson’ sisters are obviously by ‘freshman’ sire Orson Allen, which is making a quick impact at stud, and out of Glass Roof (Feb ’13 Brett Lee x West On Bluebird).

Glass Roof only won nine from 33, but she’s a litter sister to Shared Equity, a 13-time Group race finalist including four G1s, which has produced some top-shelf performers including 2019 G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Western Envoy.

She (Glass Roof) went into GAP around 12 months ago and I believe she’s found a loving home,” Capuano said.

Capuano has a few special people on his ‘thankyou list’ including the owner, Brett Vernon (Glass Roof syndicate), and breeder, Andrea Gurry, of Orson Avery and Orson Emmy for their unwavering support during the past eight years.

Given his work commitments, Capuano is also heavily reliant on his partner, Chloe Dew, who he says, “does the day-to-day work” with their racing team and pups. She even gets a little bit of help from young daughter Charlotte.

WATCH: Orson Avery (7) proves too powerful at The Meadows on January 5.

Nicole Cachia also moved in with us around 14 months ago with her daughters Sophie and Ella and assists in the morning and night with our greyhounds.”

Meanwhile, on tonight’s bumper program, four sensational heats of the Western Districts Derby (450m) will be staged.

Paddy Wants Pats ($2.30) shades Kinson Bale ($2.50) for favouritism in Heat 1 (Race 5, 8.18pm).

Boston Garden ($2.30) heads the market from Compliance ($3.00) and Zara’s Ivan ($3.70) in Heat 2 (Race 7, 8.58pm).

Zippy Tesla and Mepunga Mustang are $3.00 equal favourites in Heat 3 (Race 11, 10.18pm).

And Decimate ($1.95) dominates betting in Heat 4 (Race 12, 10.36pm).

Orson Emmy (7) salutes at Healesville on January 2.

Peter QuiltyPeter Quilty

Peter Quilty

Peter Quilty has more than three decades of experience as assistant editor of Victorian Greyhound Weekly. He was editor of GRV monthly magazine The Adviser (2001-09) and owner/publisher of Australian Greyhound Monthly. He also served on the selection panel for the inaugural GRV ‘Hall of Fame’ inductees and for several years was an adjudicator on the Victorian GOTY. He’s also published greyhound racing yearbooks and wrote the ‘Bold Trease’ video script.

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