Ian and Maureen Brown are optimistic homebred contender It’s Not Fun can provide them with their second Group 2 Backmans Greyhound Supplies Cranbourne Cup finalist in three years on Saturday night.
The Browns, who are based at Loch in Gippsland, have two runners in the Cup heats.
It’s Not Fun, which has won two of her last three starts at Cranbourne in best of meeting time, is an $8 chance in heat three, and veteran 2019 Cranbourne Cup finalist Wears Woodleigh, is a $34 outsider in the second run-off.
“It’s Not Fun is definitely the better chance,” said Maureen.
“She’s broken 30 seconds at The Meadows but Cranbourne is the furthest she’s gone and it’s a bit of a harder 500 there.
“We did think she’d run it but she really improved from her first run to her second.
“I was happy with her first win there (30.48s) and then she got down to 30.07s. It would be silly not to put her in the heats after that win!
“She’s drawn reasonable in seven – she likes the outside – and it would be good to see her get through.”
Wears Woodleigh is striving to qualify for his third country cup decider in three calendar years, after running fourth to star Orson Allen in the 2019 Cranbourne Cup Final and also contesting the 2020 Warragul Cup Final.
Wears Woodleigh, which also finished unplaced behind eventual winner Often Imitated in last year’s Cranbourne heats, earned a third crack at the Cup with a last start Warragul 400m victory, the 14th of his 86 starts and first since last February.
“He showed he’s still got it at Warragul, running 22.56s,” said Maureen.
“He’d been trialling really well at Warragul leading up to that win too, running 22.24s and 22.31s.
“He’s probably going to be slow early so the box (five) doesn’t really matter but he does like it wider.
“I’m hopeful he could maybe run a place. But it’s worth a chance; you can’t win sitting at home in the kennel!”
With It’s Not Fun (10 wins from 37 starts) and brother It’s A Drama (18 from 63) leading the way, the Browns are enjoying ‘fun’ times – pun intended – with their Cosmic Rumble – Zall Good litter.
“It’s A Drama won his third race in a row at Cranbourne over 311m last night (Wednesday) in a Best Of Night 17.51s,” said Maureen.
“It’s Not Fun ran 29.41s at Sandown in a heat of the Laurels (2019) and she and another dog from the litter, It’s A Tiger, both broke ‘30’ at The Meadows on the same day.
“There were five in the litter and they all won races and it’s exciting to have the mum’s second litter by Hooked On Scotch, which is nine weeks old, to look forward to.
“I’ve only got seven in work and I stick to racing at Sandown, Cranbourne and Warragul. That’s my circle and there has to be a good reason to leave it!” she added with a laugh.
