Wallis backs Apollo to rocket home
Newmarket Journal - October 2011 GREYHOUND TRAINER MARK WALLIS PICTURED WITH JAZZ APOLLO.
THERE is an air of confidence circulating Mark Wallis’ Imperial Kennels over the hopes of Jazz Apollo in this year’s Ladbrokes Mobile Arc.
Three-times champion trainer Wallis is confident his John Smiths Kent Derby hero can make a big impact in the Category One competition, which begins at Swindon on Monday.
“Jazz Apollo has an amazing chance of going all the way and winning the competition,” said Wallis.
“He is a top class dog and everything should suit him well at Swindon. He will get stronger as the competition goes on.”
Jazz Apollo is expected not to be alone in tackling the opening rounds of the 480m competition, worth £8,000 to the winner, with Wallis also lining up both Bellers Bud and Kinda True for a shot at the four-figure prize.
“Bellers Bud is a Derby semi-finalist who hopefully can go well,” added Wallis. “Kinda True could be our third representative in the competition.
“Although conditions will suit, he will need to improve on his recent form.”
On Friday, Mountjoy Osprey blew away his elder rivals when storming to his eighth successive victory at Romford.
Sent off the 11-8 favourite, the son of Droopys Scolari, was in a league of his own, scoring by three and a quarter lengths.
Mounjoy Osprey’s victory formed the middle part of a 17-1 treble for Wallis, which was completed by wins for Munster Champ and Ballintine Molly.
“It was a really good performance by Mountjoy Osprey as he was taking on some good older dogs,” added Wallis. “We have been forced to running him against older dogs as all the other puppy competition seems to have been scared off by his performances.”
Aero Majestic continued his recent hot streak after bolting up by five and a quarter lengths at the Essex track on Monday in the second heat of the the Coral on TV Stayers Trophy.
Last year’s williamhill.com St Leger winner will reappear in the final of the Category Three competition on Friday.
Over at Crayford, Wallis saw Mountjoy Orion fail to make it through to the final of this year’s Category One Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, after only finishing fourth in her semi-final.
There was better luck on the card though for the Lakenheath handler after Aero Joker made it through to the final of Saturday’s Peter Bussey Memorial Trophy following a win in the opening first round of the Category Two competition.
“Aero Joker is running really well and has now won her last four bounces on the trot,” said Wallis.
“She is going to need some luck in running on Saturday though as she has been drawn in trap six in a final full of dogs that run well from the inside.
“If she can break well and get across, she will be in with a chance.”
Freezing conditions got the better of a top class card for the third leg of the inaugural Betdaq Premier League at Doncaster on Friday, with the meeting abandoned due to a frozen track.
The final leg of the competition is scheduled to take place at the Yorkshire track a week tomorrow.
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