Avondale Porche Re-Ignites Towards Group Race Glory
New South Wales sprinting sensation Avondale Porche successfully returned to the racetrack last Thursday at Maitland after a 3-week hiatus, clocking a sizzling 25.18 over the 450m.
After beginning moderately from box six, the daughter of Knocka Norris and Micro Lee flashed home along the rail, recording a sensational run home time of 6.65.
26-year old trainer Beau Hedley was pleased with his prodigy's positive return.
“She has been a bit funny lately; I can't understand why she can't lead at Maitland. I thought she would lead and burn them off, but she still got the job done. I trialled her over the 400m and she went great but she just hasn't been beginning as well as what she was before.”
Avondale Porche won her first nine starts before contesting the Group One Vic Peters series at Wentworth Park, where she finished third and produced a run that had plenty of experts talking.
Exiting from box five, she was squeezed out and gave front-runners Belfast Johnny and Whata Good Size a huge start, before flashing home for third, providing a huge thrill for her young trainer.
“She was very good throughout that series. It was good to see her competitive against those sorts of dogs and honestly, it took the pressure of me a bit when she ran 2nd in her semi-final, I was very nervous that night but was pretty good during the final.”
“I would just like to see what she can do when she has to chase down a really top-class dog. With her run home times at the moment, I think there's a good chance she might be a stayer in the future.”
Avondale Porche made an outstanding start to her career back in May this year when she stepped out on debut to record a solid 25.62 at Maitland. Over the next three weeks she lowered her personal best to a speedy 25.29. She then made her anticipated debut around the two-turn circuit at Unitbet Gardens in a blistering 29.50, followed by a 30.68 victory at Richmond. She then headed to the big-smoke, recording four straight wins at Wentworth Park with a personal best of 29.75.
Trainer Beau Hedley lives at Cooranbong with a small team of greyhounds in work at present, and operates the highly respected JB lodge with Uncle Michael Brown. Hedley now has his sights firmly set on claiming the Group Three Christmas Gift at Wentworth Park.
“We will tackle the Christmas Gift heats next week and hopefully she draws a good box and gets her chance. She was very good in the Vic Peters series and she loves Wentworth Park so I'm expecting her to go really well.”
With a Group victory conceivably only a couple of starts away for this superstar sprinter of New South Wales racing, her young trainer is becoming a force to be reckoned with. He has racked up 29 winners in 2013 and looks set to end his year with a bang.