Experienced mentor Glenny Goodwin is hopeful the eight-hour trip from Wollongong to Grafton this weekend won’t be fruitless following the box draw for the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Thunderbolt.
The South Coast trainer has two chances to advance to the $40,000 final, with the chances of Raging Zeal and Man Of Zeal both improved after a trial at the Grafton circuit on Sunday.
“I did a lot of homework and spoke to a bunch of the locals who all said the dogs should improve two tenths with a look at the track,” Goodwin said.
“So I took them both up to trial and I wanted to run 20.20 or better and they went much better than that. Raging Zeal ran 19.79 and 4.07 to the first peg, while Man Of Zeal came up with the lids and still broke 20 (19.99) and went 4.13 to the peg.
“I haven’t seen the replay of Mark To Market’s heat yet but he goes quick early and Flash Jet is obviously a very fast dog,” Goodwin added.
“Flash Jet broke four seconds to the first mark the other day in his trial and he’ll probably improve on that so Raging Zeal will have to do everything right.
“He can go quick early as well though. Mr. America holds the first section record up the straight of 6.74 and my bloke has gone 6.76. He’s run 19.03 at Bulli and he went quick early that night too.
“I’m not overly disappointed to get Box 5 but our best hope is getting to the rail…if he can begin and get to the fence, he won’t leave it because he’s a magic railer. He’s the better of my chances.
Man Of Zeal didn’t trial as well as his kennelmate but after drawing Box 3 in what looks like a softer field on paper, Goodwin has reason for optimism.
“If he can find a length in that first section, he could get down to 19.80 which would put him in the race…we might not be driving up there for nothing,” he said.
Goodwin is one of only four trainers with multiple runners in the semi-finals, with Michelle Sultana, Ken Gray and Jonathon Crocker also rugging up two chances on Sunday night.
The 67-year-old thoroughly enjoying his first foray into the Thunderbolt race series.
“I think it’s a great concept and I like everyone getting a chance at their local track. I don’t see why you would move it away from Grafton either,” he said.
Glen Goodwin (right) with Raging Zeal after qualifying foe the series semi-finals at Bulli behind Where's Fernando
“The track’s magnificent, facilities are great, people are good. There’s not one thing wrong with the joint. John Corrigan, the Hindmarsh’s and Chris Field couldn’t have done enough to make me feel welcome.
“We went up last Saturday night, we stayed on the track in Chris’s van and it was a great setup. If we get through to the final, I think we’ll just stay up there for the week. Chris can run his hands over the dogs and I’d be happy for both of them to go without a run before the final.
The Ladbrokes Thunderbolt semi-finals kick off in Race 5 on Sunday night at Grafton, with the top two from each race advancing to the $40,000 final on Saturday, June 21.
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