Geelong Derby A Stepping Stone To Spring Campaign

ANTHONY Azzopardi is hoping that Friday night's Geelong Derby heats will launch the spring campaigns of up-and-comers Deadly Class and Salad Dodger.

Azzopardi, who won Wednesday's group 3 Great Chase at The Meadows with All Spritzed Up, is excited about his young team and believes races such as the Geelong Derby are an important test for dogs before stepping up to open company.

"I've got a nice team, there's some really nice young dogs here," said Azzopardi.

FIELDS AND FORM GEELONG FRIDAY

"It (the Geelong Derby) is a good little race, and a good stepping stone for their future. These little features are important for their career.

Deadly Class is a star in the making ⭐️

He powers home to win in 29.29s

Azzopardi and Manolitsis have a good one on their hands! pic.twitter.com/MrrLKkrCgu

— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) August 25, 2022

"We'll just move forward and see how far we can get."

Deadly Class has already enjoyed success at group 3 level having claimed the South Australian Derby in September and franked that form with a brilliant 29.16 win at Sandown Park his following start.

It's that raw speed that has Azzopardi keen to take on the nation's fastest, despite his relative inexperience.

"He's a very nice dog. He's got a big future ahead of him," Azzopardi continued.

"He's definitely going for the Melbourne Cup. I'm hoping that after this he can go in the Shootout. I'm not saying he can win a Shootout or anything like that, but I reckon he'll be very competitive.

"It (the Shootout) is a good lead up to the Melbourne Cup."

But first, he's got a Geelong Derby heat to contend with in which he is rated a $2.80 favourite with TAB despite the awkward box seven draw.

"He's got a big chance. His only downside is that there's a lot of speed in the race, so he's got to put his thinking cap on and work out how to get around. If he's close enough he'll run over the top of them I have no doubt because he's really strong, I just hope he doesn't find a bit of strife.

"Dundee Smokey (box 3) is pretty freakish early, a very smart dog. That dog is going to be a very good country cups dog I'll tell you. He won't be easy to catch over 460m, over 500m I reckon we'd beat him but over 460m it's going to be a test.

"I reckon he'll be third early looking at the sections, but if he hits the start – he's not slow early, but he does miss it a little bit more than he comes out."

"You don't win friends with salad, but the punters love him."
? @stumpjumpa

SALAD DODGER managed to overcome a tardy beginning and triumph at Bendigo in slick time.

Favourite punters would have been worried in the initial stages. ?#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/Xv4oBbSSMX

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) September 30, 2022

While Deadly Class has shown outstanding ability from the start of his career, kennelmate Salad Dodger's ability has taken longer to emerge.

A winner of just two of his first 10 starts, Salad Dodger finished third behind Deadly Class in the South Australian Derby before running second in last Friday night's Bendigo Cup.

Salad Dodger has become a favourite of Azzopardi, and not just because he's a son of his Melbourne Cup winner Whiskey Riot.

"My little mate! He's not the best dog in the kennel, but geez he tries hard. He's a ripper of a little dog, I love him.

"It's a great story this dog, He was a terrible dog when he first got here, but he's a lovely dog now.

"I give him a good hope in his heat – from box two he's going to lead a long way. He's going to run his 25.6, so catch me if he can. I think the red can run him down, but I expect him to run a good race."

The first four from each Derby heat will progress to the $10,000 final on Saturday October 29.