By Brennan Ryan
Having previously made the final on three occasions in recent years, Queensland trainer Selena Zammit will be aiming to achieve her first victory in the Group 3 WESEAL Townsville Cup Final when Kooringa Lucy contests Friday night’s $40,000 feature.
Four heats of the Townsville Cup were staged last week, providing a great day of greyhound racing.
The prolific winning daughter of Fernando Bale and Mitcharlie Mia started from box six in her heat and came from behind with a slow beginning in running down tearaway leader Flying Jet.
She eventually powered away and scored by one-and-a-half lengths, with Sleek Rumble running in third.
Kooringa Lucy impressed on-lookers clocking 28.78 seconds in her first look at the 498-metre trip, the heat win successfully notched up her 28th career win from 61 starts for Cheryl Northfield.
Excuse Me Jack, for trainer Harold Hovi, had set the time standard for the heats clocking 28.63 seconds.
Selena’s husband and travelling foreman Mick Zammit accompanying Kooringa Lucy headed north from their Willow Vale-based kennels and has stayed locally in Townsville for the week ahead.
“The 498-metres is a unique corner start and box draws remain crucial, Kooringa Lucy suits the track with her class and ability, she couldn’t have been more impressive with the heat win,” Zammit said.
“It takes both a sprinter and stayer to run out the distance and thankfully Lucy can do just that.”
Despite a tricky draw of box four, Mick is remaining confident Kooringa Lucy can get the job done.
“The five (Flying Jet) is a brilliant beginner that will go straight which may cause trouble, it’s a matter for Kooringa Lucy to stay up on her feet and hopefully push up being close to the front,” he said.
The Zammit’s have contested the Group 3 WESEAL Townsville Cup on three previous occasions with multiple city class winners Red Rocket, Semi Earner and last year with Oh Mickey and Stinger Noir.