Kilmany trainer Cheryle Ragen says she’ll “probably be blubbering like a baby” if Wigram Road takes out tonight’s $12,000 to-the-winner GOTBA Cup (515m) – Race 6, 7.55pm – at Sandown Park.

“The ‘waterworks’ started when he won a heat last week and I think I’ll be the same if he wins tonight. In fact, I’ll be tickled pink!” Ragen said.

Contesting only his fourth start this year, Wigram Road clocked a 29.58sec heat win – only 2L slower than fastest qualifier Studley (29.46sec).

Subsequently, in a keen betting affair, Wigram Road is a $3.00 favourite on TAB fixed odds – ahead of Studley ($4.00), Jefferson County ($4.60) and Ultimate Avenger ($5.50).

Ragen has nursed Wigram Road – a winner of 10 races (with five seconds and three thirds) from 25 starts – back to full health since surgery to remove a testicle in early January.

“The ‘waterworks’ started when he won a heat last week and I think I’ll be the same if he wins tonight.”

“He was also recovering from a fractured fibula, and the testicle was located high in his groin and had been restricting his gait in races, so I decided to have it taken out,” she said.

“I’m not one for pushing dogs back early, so he had a little more time off than needed.”

Ragen added that Wigram Road (Aug ’19 Fernando Bale x Spiritual Charm) has “always shown enormous ability”.

“He’s not a quick box dog, but he’s capable of anything if he gets an uninterrupted run. He’s very strong and may eventually get a middle distance.”

Wigram Road will exit box one in the final and Ragen says she’s a “bit dubious about the draw”.

“All the speed is on his outside – particularly the ‘three’ (Jefferson County), ‘seven (Studley) and ‘eight’ (Ephemeral) – but if he can get a nice cart into the first bend, he’ll be right in the finish.

“He’s a bit of a ‘stand-offish’ dog, but he’s a real keen chaser. He’s got better since he started racing over ‘500m’ as he was crying out for more ground.”

Bred by Ragen, Wigram Road stems from the pre-potent Chica Destacada maternal line – including a phenomenal Apr ’16 litter (by Fernando Bale) comprising Blue Moon Rising, Poco Dorado, Veloce Nero and Two Times Twice.

Ragen was virtually ‘born into the sport’. Her mother, Beverly Davenport, raced many greyhounds under the well-known “Glencoe” prefix.

Pawnote: Owned by Cheryl Barwick in Rosemeadow, NSW, Wigram Road is named after a road near the old Harold Park greyhound track where Barwick once lived.

WATCH: WIGRAM ROAD (8) produces a powerful 29.58sec GOTBA Cup heat win last week.