Azzopardi Says Sky's The Limit For Debut Winner

TRAINER Anthony Azzopardi has heaped the ultimate praise on exciting prospect Pass The Buck in the aftermath of his debut victory at Healesville on Wednesday.

Pass The Buck – a 19-month old son of Bernardo and On The Runway – created a huge impression when winning his heat of the Highway 31 Maiden Challenge (300m) in a flying best of meeting 16.44.

"At his age he's as good a pup as I've ever had," beamed Azzopardi following the slashing win.

"I'm not saying he'll end up like a Whiskey Riot or Raw Ability but with what he's showing me he's got the potential to get there. Everything about him impresses me and there's still plenty of improvement in him.

"It's all ahead of him."

Owned by Darren and Michael Puleio, Pass The Buck lacks nothing in pedigree, with dam On The Runway having produced top flight sprinters Rebellious and Substantial, the latter trained by Azzopardi to win last year's Shepparton Cup.

"We whelped and reared the litter here so it makes it extra satisfying when you see them progress right the way through," Azzopardi said.

Going into yesterday he'd been trialling sensational. Not long ago at Geelong I put Big Daddy around and he went 22.20 and the next trial this pup went 22.30. That's the kind of ability he's been showing."

Pass The Buck has drawn box eight for Sunday's $15,000-to-the-winner maiden decider where Azzopardi will boast a three-pronged attack after also landing heats with debutantes Judgement Day (16.58) and Candyman (16.85). 

"Candyman is owned by my daughter Kayla so for him to win was extra special," Azzopardi said.

"She helped whelp the litter and picked him right from the start and has been with him right the way through. He's had his share of setbacks along the way and to win he needed to draw one of the easier heats and it all came together.

“We got a real kick out of him winning.

"Judgement Day has got a really nice future as well. He's always been two tenths behind Pass The Buck and if it wasn't for him I'd be raving more about this dog.

"We'll see the best of him later on when he gets up over further."

While ecstatic to land a winning treble in the heats, Azzopardi has called on Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) to apply some common sense when scheduling events like this in the future.

"They got six heats – the first three were races one to three and the final three races nine to eleven," said a frustrated Azzopardi.

"Why would you have heats with mostly first starters so late in the program if it's not necessary?

RESULTS HEALESVILLE WEDNESDAY

"Having young dogs in the kennels for 3 ½ hours is just crazy, you're just crucifying them.

"And when you are qualifying for a final what if the conditions change midway through the day and alters the times and costs someone a spot in the final?

"It's something that shouldn't happen again."