Greyhound racing in the Upper Hunter revs up on Sunday with heats of the Muswellbrook RSL Club Maiden (328m), Muswellbrook Workers Club series over 429m and Muswellbrook Shire Council Cup (560m) dominating the 12-race afternoon program.
With the strong support of Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Racing Minister Kevin Anderson, GRNSW has earmarked the Muswellbrook facility for a significant upgrade and future TAB coverage.
Sunday’s meeting parlays into May 23 when five finals and two top grade events (over 328m and 429m) have been programmed.
And that’s not the end of the outstanding prizemoney!
A ‘bitches only’ race – the Schute Saxon Memorial over 429m – and the All Day Concrete/Brett's Maintenance Welding has $2000 going to the winner while the Murrurundi Whitehart Hotel/Dimmocks Quality Meats Masters, a top grade sprint and a Pathways (all over 328m) is $1700 for the win.
In all, $31,530 is up for grabs for just the nine advertised events making the day the richest prizemoney-wise ever at Muswellbrook and underscores the importance of the Hunter region to greyhound racing in NSW.
One Muswellbrook Cup aspirant which will be ideally suited by the testing 560m trip is the Pat Parrelli-trained Tatum (race five, box one).
The son of Dyna Double One is racing in career best form. He powered away late to score at The Gardens over 600m on May 8 in a solid 34.83 seconds – his third win from his past four starts.
The win at The Gardens was by no means straight forward. He dwelt from box 1 and collided heavily with Flashing Oscar after 50m but regained momentum to be third – but eight lengths from the lead - with a lap of the Birmingham Gardens track navigate.
Tracking a little wide, Tatum closed gamely before the home turn, swept clear and raced away score by a widening 4 ¼ lengths. Late last month, he won at Gosford (600m) and Maitland (565m) in similarly powerful fashion.
Lack of Muswellbrook experience - to the uninitiated - may be considered his ‘kryptonite’ yet, he’s now on his home track and, from box one, is drawn to make his own luck.
Whatever he does in the heat, he’ll certainly be improved should he qualify for the $5500 to-the-winner final in six days time.
