Warrior Will Lights Up The Brook

GRETA trainer Peter Akers has every reason to believe his grand old campaigner Warrior Will is ready to run a forward race at Maitland this Thursday.

The rising five year old lines up from box one in the fifth event on Thursday afternoon's 10-event card, fresh off a record breaking Muswellbrook performance on Sunday, shaving about a length off the previous 328m time-standard, posting a flying 18.61.

"It was a big thrill for Peter (Passfield) and myself, there's been a lot of good dogs go around Muswellbrook over the years so to say you've had the quickest ever is a pretty big thing," declared Akers on Tuesday.

"I can't say I was completely surprised with the time he ran – he's run 24.80 there over the 429m and that's low flying. The favourite for his race Sunday, Dana Kazza, had run 18.80 there so when my bloke nailed the start and took off like he did I knew he must have been running some time."

Warrior Will – a son of Cosmic Rumble and Our Money Box – began his career in dominant fashion during the second half of 2016 for then trainer Michelle Shambler, winning his first three on the trot, including a slashing 22.51 Richmond 400m victory.

"I didn't have him at the time but I think he had a few injuries early on which caused him some issues – I'm told he still holds the record at Keinbah Trial Track, he's always been a very quick dog," said Akers.

"Ashley Thomas owned him back then and Michelle was training him, apparently the dog was a real mad barker – like 3am every morning – and Michelle wasn't putting up with that. Then Ashley took him back but he does shift work so it became a problem for him as well. Ashley offered the dog to Peter Passfield as a giveaway and that's how we came to get him. Peter was training him for a while but with his work commitments couldn't do the dog justice either, which is no fault of his."

With the benefit of box one this Thursday, Akers expects a strong showing from his last start record breaker, declaring Tunza Thunda for Sue Smith, and Cee Jay's Boy for Ron Marsden, as the two to beat, with betting expected to reflect same.

"Box one is a big advantage for my bloke, his best form is around Maitland but he hasn't had any luck with box draws there lately – some of the masters races he's been in have been harder than the graded events on the day," added Akers.

"Tunza Thunda is a very quick bitch – I actually won a race at Muswellbrook on Sunday for Sue and John (Miles) with Lucy Jetstream, if she brings her Gosford and Gardens form to Maitland she'll be very hard to beat, but 400m absolutely pulls her up.

"Cee Jay's Boy is a very good dog and has broken 30 at Wenty, his two Maitland runs haven't been as good as his Bulli form but he's obviously going to be very hard to beat as well. We're an each-way chance from box one for sure."

While Akers is happy knocking around with a small team currently, the Greta-based trainer is excited about what's ahead, with some beautifully bred pups on the way through.

"My line goes back to Return Of Osti who I bought off Ted Doss, it's always been a very strong bitches line," added Akers.

"I've got a Magic Sprite litter here out of Little Rum, a litter by Fabregas out of my good bitch Leggy Blonde, and another litter by El Grand Senor out of Mac Molly, she was going to be anything before she was injured.

"Mac Molly won her maiden at The Gardens in 29.60 and I knocked back pretty big money for her after that – she's had seven to El Grand Senor, would you believe all bitches!"