He Knows Uno - Golden Easter Egg
We would all love to be a 1 in 8 chance of taking home $250,000 and on Saturday night at Wentworth Park in Sydney the likable Iluka based husband and wife team of Mick and Lillian Patterson will have exactly that chance.
The hustle and bustle of Sydney may be a far cry from the picturesque and peaceful surrounds of Iluka but it will be where all the action is centred for the Patterson's as they rug up their pride and joy He Knows Uno in the final of the world's richest greyhound race, the Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg Final carrying a cool $250,000 to the winner. The minor prize money is nothing to be sneezed at either with $62,500 and $31,250 for second and third place respectively.
Mick has been making the arduous 18 hour round trip for the past three weeks with travelling companions Mick Causley and Reg Gardoll and it is fair to say his success has made the return journey home a much more enjoyable one.
After winning his maiden race victory during last years Grafton July Racing Carnival one could never had known the lofty heights which He Knows Uno would go onto reach but it does outline the quality of greyhounds being produced here on the Northern Rivers.
After a strong finishing second in his heat He Knows Uno was then responsible for a huge run in his semi final when running down Australia's highest stakes winning greyhound High Earner after being last in the early stages. He spotted that runner a conservative ten lengths start in the early stages and as they straightened for the run home he was still spotting High Earner a tidy five lengths start. You could hear the excitement in race caller Paul Ambrosoli's voice as He Knows Uno lifted to score a narrow victory over High Earner in the shadows of the post.
While it was not the fastest time of the heats, that honour went to Radley Bale who has drawn box 7, he did have to overcome a chequered passage in running. You can be sure that whichever greyhound is leading the event the connections of that runner will be looking back in the field to see exactly where the powerful finishing home bred son of Primo Uno and Honeymoon's Over is.
When contacted earlier this week Mick was understandably thrilled at the efforts of his charge and could not be any happier with preparations for this Saturday night' final. He has been kept fresh all week with just a swim in the Clarence River as per his preparation when taking out the Group 1 Brisbane Cup at Albion Park earlier this year.
Bookmakers have listed He Knows Uno as a $13 chance to take out the event and while Mick would have preferred to have drawn box 8 in the final he is hopeful that He Knows Uno may be able to hold the fence as they round the first turn and push into a forward position from his box 1 draw. As added incentive for connections Sedger's Reef Hotel proprietor Mr. Gilmore has intimated that the Sportsman's Bar in the rebuilt and soon to be opened new Sedger's Reef Hotel is to be named the He Knows Uno bar if successful.
Win lose or draw on Saturday evening at 10.15pm the Patterson's are in for one of the most exciting rides of their lives, one which we all dream to one day be a part of. So here is to hoping that maybe, just maybe, the Easter Bunny is set to deliver the ultimate "Egg" to the doorsteps of the Patterson residence in Iluka.
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