Cowra couple Paul and Pam Braddon have had a couple of cracks at winning the annual Goulburn Fireball.
12-months ago, Blazing Ferrero had to settle for second as Augustus Finch flew to the front and scorched away for race record win.
In 2023, the kennel had dual hopes heading into the decider with speed machine Clare A Chance and Darius Express both single figure odds to claim the $25,000 feature.
They had to settle for fourth and sixth respectively behind another Anthony Azzopardi runner in Packham Silk, with Clare A Chance especially unlucky not to finish a lot closer after having her heels clipped while in second spot as the field turned for home.
“He’s a very fast dog, he’s not deadly quick of the boxes and he won’t lid ping, but he’ll try and barge his way through,” she said.
“Once he hits the ground, he goes pretty good. He gave them six lengths early in his race last week and ended up running a handy second. He’s not usually that awful out so hopefully Box 2 brings him out better this week and we know he wants the rails.”
“He’s run 19.51 at Goulburn [second fastest of any dog in the heats] and equalled the track record at Temora over the shorts. He flies at Dubbo as well so he’s our best hope I think.”
His litter brother, Tin Roof Rusty, is also not a great beginner but is boxed well in Heat 4 according to Braddon.
“He’s got a good record from that draw but he’ll probably be giving them a start,” Pam said.
“The Fireball wasn’t really the plan for him to be honest. We had been racing him over the shorts early in the year but we stepped him up to 440m at Goulburn and 450m at Temora with the Goulburn Cup in mind.”
“He had a few months off though in August and September so the 350m might suit him better after only a few runs back.”
The kennel’s other hope, Blazing Ferrero, is also on the comeback trail after a peculiar injury kept him off the track for an extended period.
“He was out for a while with a burst blood vessel high up in his back. The vet said it was very unusual and not common in greyhounds so there was a question about whether or not he would race again,” Pam added.
“He had a lot of time off but we’ve been building him back up, he’s had five runs since that break and looks good. We don’t know if he’s going as well as he was last year but we do know he wants the fence and Box 6 will make it hard.”
The Goulburn Fireball, which was first won by Spider’s Brother for Neil Staines back in 2016, will celebrate its tenth edition this year.
Five heats will be run on Friday, with the final slated for November 31.
