Emma Pritchard

Close to 100 greyhounds competed across a 12-race program as the Grafton Greyhound Racing Club’s 2022 July Racing Carnival commenced on July 3.

The feature races on the night, the Fair Dinkum Builds CV Sheds Maiden Heats over 450m, attracted a strong number of contenders with the winners and three fastest runners-up qualifying for the Fair Dinkum Builds CV Sheds Maiden Final over 450m on July 13.

Whiteman Creek trainer Evelyn Harris celebrated jubilantly after the debut win of Lee’s Tiger in the first heat on the night.

Starting at 20/1, the imposing brindle jumped cleanly from box 2 and powered home in a time of 25.39 seconds, defeating the fast-finishing Nangar Rocket by 1.25 lengths.

The well supported Nangar Chief went one better than his littermate in the second heat on the program, scoring a determined win after a fierce battle up the home straight with Reel ‘em Bluey.

The third heat provided another thrilling finish with Nangar Archie denying a gallant Edge Gambler by less than a length on the line to give trainer Dennis Barnes his third qualifier ahead of the final next week.

The fourth heat threw up a surprising result for punters after Carroway put four lengths on the field at the top of the home straight and kicked clear from Oh Reuben to win at 12/1 in a time of 25.62 seconds.

But punters were able to breathe a sigh of relief after the short priced favourite Phantom Jasper recorded a strong debut win in heat 5, racing home in 25.67 seconds to defeat Four Barrys by 4.5 lengths.

The final field and the box draw for the Fair Dinkum Builds CV Sheds Maiden Final was held following the running of Race 8.

The Dennis Barnes trained pair Nangar Archie and Nangar Chief will jump beside each other after drawing boxes 1 and 2 respectively, while Lee’s Tiger drew box 3.

Reel ‘em Bluey will start from box 4, Carroway from box 5, and Phantom Jasper from box 6.

Four Barrys will begin from box 7, and the third of Dennis Barnes’s qualifiers Nangar Rocket will start from box 8.

Edge Gambler is the first reserve for the final next week, Oh Reuben is the second reserve.

Following the box draw, the winning connections of Lee’s Tigers said they were happy with box 3, after revealing they wanted “anything except box 8.”

The Grafton Greyhound Racing Club will host their next race meeting, day two of the 2022 July Racing Carnival, on July 6.