This Time Luck Deserts Punter

Illawarra Mercury

Friday December 21, 2007

By PETER DAVIS

WITH the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy under his arm and his first one-day century at Bellerive Oval in the record books, Ricky Ponting ventured to Elwick greyhound track for the Hobart Thousand last night on a high.

His star sprinter First Innings was the hot favourite in the Group One race, but was slow to begin from box one and, after being badly checked after 50m, finished a distant last to veteran Train A Journey in a slow 26.51sec.

Train A Journey finished a gallant third to Superman in the same race last year.

For trainer John Galea it was his second Hobart Thousand, having previously scored with Nobody Knew in 2003.

First Innings went into the feature as a raging favourite after pre-post elect Shanlyn Prince - the Melbourne Cup winner - was scratched on the morning of the race with an injury to his near hind leg.

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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