Greyhound racing
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VICTORIAN greyhound trainer Michael Carter enjoyed his first taste of Wagga's racing scene and now he has returned for more.
Carter's first trip to the city gifted him the prized Graeme Hull Memorial Wagga Gold Cup when Jimmy Lane sprinted home to win the $10,000 feature race last year.
Twelve months on from the memorable victory, Carter will bring five of his best dogs to Wagga in the hope of qualifying for the Cup final again.
He will drive the trailer from Violet Town north to Wagga on Friday to contest all four heats.
Carter rates his chances of winning the Gold Cup better than this time a year ago.
"I've got better dogs in this year," Carter said.
"Jimmy Lane was my fourth stager last year but he drew well in the final, got on the bunny and ran."
Carter brought four dogs to Wagga for the heats last year and has improved his chances this time with five nominees.
2013 champion Jimmy Lane has since moved on from his Violet Town kennels, but Omar Gee (heat one) and Jack Silver (heat two) will return to give it another crack.
Fearless Bert, Moot Point and Shadow Lane round out Carter's hopefuls.
"If Shadow Lane doesn't get touched he just wins,"
- Michael Carter
Of the five runners, Carter rates Shadow Lane and Fearless Bert as the pick of the bunch.
Shadow Lane is a previous Golden Easter Egg semi finalist and has plenty of experience racing in Group class.
"If Shadow Lane doesn't get touched he just wins," Carter said.
"He's been unlucky with the gates and he's drawn the eight again this time, but if he jumps and gets a run he will carve them up.
"Fearless Bert is probably the fastest of my dogs.
"He will break the track record if he gets out and runs well.
"All of them are going good it's just a matter of how they begin."
The four heats of the Graeme Hull Memorial Wagga Gold Cup (525m) and the Butch Pertzel Memorial (400m) will be run at Wagga's Friday twilight meeting.
The 10-race card will kick off at 5.42pm.