Pitt's Audacious Play For Pink Diamond Berth

KAREN Pitt believes her three runners may be racing for second place in Thursday afternoon's Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter heat at Warragul after drawing against boom pup Mr Audacious.

Mr Audacious has won nine of his 11 career starts including each of his last five appearances, and opened a $2.25 favourite with TAB.

"Mr Audacious is perfectly drawn with Propelled on his inside," said Pitt.

FIELDS AND FORM WARRAGUL THURSDAY

"He should have plenty of room and I think with his early speed, if he's off and gone everyone else is running for second. But it would be good to qualify one of them and you're a chance next week."

Second place will be enough to advance to the $75,000-to-the-winner final at Ballarat on 17 June, and Pitt has two good chances to progress.

Ballarat Cup champion Compliance is the second favourite in the heat however Pitt said that on ability, there wasn't a lot between he and kennelmate Propelled.

COMPLIANCE ‘RAINS' SUPREME

Group 2 #BallaratCup champion COMPLIANCE (6) overhauled #HealesvilleDerby winner SILVER BRUTE (7) in a smart 23.655 seconds at a wet Bendigo (425m) for trainer Karen Pitt.

Result ? https://t.co/OzMXbqiR5x#GreyhoundRacing @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/671qTNxsor

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) June 4, 2022

"I know it probably doesn't sound that way because Compliance has done so much more on the track – but I think with the right run in a race Propelled has plenty of ability and is racing well at the moment,” she said.

"Compliance has got the speed, but I don't see there's a huge difference in their trials. Propelled can run pretty much equivalent or maybe a bit behind Compliance but he doesn't have the early speed that Compliance has – he's doing his best work at the end whereas the other boy runs his race from box rise."

Both enter the race in impressive form. Compliance resumed from a short let up to win his last two starts in the best time of the night, while Propelled's five race winning streak ended with a narrow defeat at Bendigo last time out.

"We gave Compliance a let up after a long preparation so a nice 10 days at home keeping him on the lead and giving him some time off,” she added.

“I think that gave him a bit of that spark back again. He's raced well in his two starts back in wet conditions that really don't suit him – he prefers that firm track to show his speed and really accelerate.

"Propelled can begin with them but he's not one that will explode and find the front in the first 50m. He'll rely on a bit of luck and look to the rail and need that bit of room.

“He's 37kg so he likes to push them out of the way. If he can get a bit of momentum then he can use his size, but there's going to be a lot of speed in the race so he's going to be midfield and he'll need to push through them so it's going to be a lot harder in that field.

COMPLETE DOMINATION

Group 2 #BallaratCup winner COMPLIANCE (1) was relatively untroubled in his 12th victory at start 23 in a best-of-meeting 25.759 seconds at Warragul (460m) for trainer Karen Pitt.

Result ? https://t.co/oDOiw8sbjS#GreyhoundRacing @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/0nespXnOpc

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) May 31, 2022

"Just to qualify would be enormous. I think it's got the most depth of the heats that I've seen – there's some good dogs in each but I think this race is quite deep.

Pitt also has outsider Specialty which will line up for his fourth start after a career threatening hock injury.

"It was touch and go whether he'd race again but he showed us that he can come back,” Pitt said.

“He's probably better than his last few runs – he's been trapped wide and hasn't really been able to get into the race.

"I expect him to race better than what he's been racing – his form doesn't read as well as he's going – and the draw will suit but the field is a little too hot for him at this stage of his comeback."

Pitt also has Loneliness in a semi-final of the Pink Diamond Challenger Sprinter semi-final (race). While TAB rates her a $3.50 chance from box two, Pitt was cautious about her chances.

"She's a dog that needs a lot of confidence,” she said.

“If she can find the front or sit close to them I think she's a chance but it's a complex type of race – she needs to do everything right.

“She's not drawn too bad so I'm hoping she can step clean and get left alone and be somewhere near the lead she'll be competitive."