Team Lord has runners in Saturday night's Ladbrokes Country Classic preliminaries and heats of the New Sensation, as well the Temora Cup final on Sunday.
Hear what Andy had to say about the kennel’s chances in what looms as a massive weekend of chasing around the state.
Ayden's Warrior | Going back to 600m doesn’t really help him that much after his recent runs over the staying trip but we have freshened him up. He also likes Dubbo and ran fast time there in the semi-finals of the Country Classic last year.
I think he’s pretty dour now and he’s staying well but he does love 600m racing. I think he’s a really good all-rounder, he’s got versatility to drop back in trip and although it’s a hard race and he prefers to be drawn inside, I still think he’ll qualify for the final.
Magic Bandit | She went off the boil a bit after she won the Futurity in January. She’s only had two starts since then and finished down the track in both of them We worked out she had a bit of virus so she’s had a few weeks away from the races and we expect her to run well.
Texas Bandit | He’s as honest as they come but he’s probably only a 29.6 dog at his best. If he can lead, he’ll be hard to run past. I think he’ll be in the first two as they go around the first turn because he does have some good early pace and he can get across them quick from Box 7.
Consigliere | He’s the best bet of the weekend for us.
He’s back in NSW for this race and the Easter Egg and then he’ll go back to Melbourne and Jason Thompson. He’s going really well and I think if the boxes were reversed in the Australian Cup final, he might be a group one winner.
He’s just turned two and is starting to settle down a bit now and is turning himself into a real race dog. He’s got a lot of ability and he’s a determined chaser, he was just one of those dogs that needed to grow up to be honest.
He’s been coming out of the boxes better lately and I reckon there’s a 29.2 run in that dog at Wentworth Park.
When we get to September this year, I think he’ll really shine and he’s a group race winning dog for sure.
Wax And Wash | He’s only a young dog on the way up and I just threw him in on ability. He’s run 29.6 there but he’ll be good odds and a good eachway bet.
The winner will come from my three or Eriza Sparkles. In saying that, Fitchy’s dog will have to do everything right from Box 5 and He’s A Pearl will have to do the same from the pink if they are to win.
Secret Bandit | I think Secret Bandit is the knockout chance because early pace wins big races.
I don’t know what the first section record is at Temora but she went close to it in the heats and if you look at her sectional times at Wenty Park when she went 29.20 a month ago, they were up there with She’s A Pearl and Fernando Bale.
If she repeats that first section on Sunday, there’s only two dogs in the race that could run her down – Eriza Sparkles and He’s A Pearl. I’ve got a bit of a wrap on her, she’s only just turned two and she’s starting to put it together.
Classy Bandit | She’s a good bitch and she’s not out of it but I can’t see her crossing Secret Bandit.
He’s A Pearl | He’d never seen the track before the heats so he’ll be a big improver.
If I had a choice, I’d rather he win this race because he’s on the improve, he’s been in a few big races now and his mother won the race a few times as well so his arrow is pointing up.
