Caretaker trainer Anthony Azzopardi just wants “a little bit of luck” for NSW superstar Good Odds Harada at The Meadows tonight as the greyhound chases an elusive first win on Victorian soil.
Good Odds Harada transferred to Victoria last month and was luckless in a heat of the G1 Harrison-Dawson (515m) at Sandown.
“He’s had no luck lately but if he finds the front, you’ll see his best,” Azzopardi said. “He can’t afford his momentum to stop, that’s the secret to him.”
Azzopardi added that Good Odds Harada, who is TAB’s $1.55F in Race 9 at 9.17pm, “keeps drawing bad boxes”.
Ironically, he’s drawn awkwardly in Box 6 tonight in a Grade 5 heat (525m) but there wouldn’t be too many greyhounds with a better record while wearing the ‘green’ rug. He’s won seven times in 10 starts from Box 6 – a 70% strike rate!
“He’s got a striking conformation and, in my opinion, he’ll make a top sire” – ANTHONY AZZOPARDI
A winner of 26 races from 60 starts, Good Odds Harada is Australia’s third-highest stakes earner ($1,283,355) – courtesy of a $1m pay day in last year’s Million Dollar Chase (520m) at Wentworth Park in Sydney.
But the five-time G1 finalist is yet to ‘break the ice’ in six Victorian starts, including three at The Meadows – this year’s G1 Temlee (6th) and last year’s G1 Topgun (4th) and a heat of the G1 Maturity Classic (2nd).
Good Odds Harada (Apr ’17 Collision x Solar Pak) is a litter brother of retired champ Feral Franky, who is now at stud.
And obviously that’s where Good Odds Harada will be headed once his racing days are over.
“He’s got a striking conformation, and, in my opinion, he’ll make a top sire,” Azzopardi said. “He’s also a very calm dog with a beautiful temperament… He’s a dog you could easily fall in love with.”
WATCH: NSW superstar Good Odds Harada (2) defeats Victorians Shima Shine (6) and Get It Gizmo (1) in last year’s TAB Million Dollar Chase (520m) at Wentworth Park.
