Tomorrow is shaping up as a big
night in front of the telly for Essendon?s army of supporters and members.
At 8pm, the boys from Windy Hill
will put their season on the line in the AFL?s first semi-final against the
minor premiers Port Adelaide.
Then at 11pm, their pacing hero
Windyhillbomber will make his return to the racetrack in the $6000 Awards Night
C0 Pace at Cranbourne.
Windyhillbomber has not raced
since finishing fourth in a Breeders Crown heat at Geelong on 3 August when tests
revealed he was carrying a virus.
Trainer Jayne Davies has overseen
a lengthy course of antibiotics to have the pacer dubbed ?Sheedy? ready to make
his four-year-old debut.
A trial winner last Saturday
morning at Cranbourne, the Alabar-bred pacer has been rated a $6 chance after
drawing gate two in the 2105 metre event.
?He won his trial, but didn?t
finish it off as I?d have liked,? Davies said.
?I?ve made a few changes to his
gear since and he worked really well during the week with Millennium Express.
?From the draw, he looks a good
each way chance.?
Regular pilot Chris Alford will
be in the cart as Windyhillbomber meets other talented four-year-olds Jack Fox
(gate six, $3), Operaville (gate 1, $4.50) and Whata Dash (gate three, $6).
During his first two season?s of
racing, Windyhillbomber faced the starter 17 times for three wins, six placings
and five fourths. Missing prizemoney at only three of those appearances, he?s
amassed $13,860 for charity.
