Hardman's Long Range The 715 Bid Set For Takeoff

Goulburn trainer Mick Hardman will be hoping months of meticulous planning and seemingly endless kilometres in the car pays dividends when the Ladbrokes The 715 begins at The Gardens on Friday night.

With an eye-watering $500,000 first prize awaiting winning connections, The 715, now in its second year, is the world's richest staying event.

And it's the allure of the life-changing prize money which had Hardman earmark the lucrative series with brothers Zipping Whiskey and Zipping Neutron late last year.

FIELDS AND FORM THE GARDENS FRIDAY NIGHT

"Everything from about November onwards has been aimed toward having them ready for this series," Hardman said.

"I've been up and down the highway I couldn't tell you how many times getting them familiar with The Gardens and at 2 ½ years old, with 30 odd starts under their belt, they should be in the sweet spot of their careers.

Zipping Whiskey for Michael Hardman has scored a nice last-to-first victory in the GRNSW Stayers Series at @GossyGreys tonight.

Full Results: https://t.co/iA2SbthW4a#thedogs #greyhoundracing pic.twitter.com/jhvdL4N5Ye

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) January 3, 2023

"They are spot on for Friday night's heats – I couldn't be happier with them."

Five heats of The 715 are slated for The Gardens on Friday night where Zipping Whiskey will line-up in heat one from box seven while Zipping Neutron will exit the same draw in heat five.

Zipping Whiskey launches his The 715 assault fresh off a stylish win at the track last week where defeating a top field including series favourite Cawbourne Magic which he clashes with again on Friday.

"The only dog I didn't want to face in the heats was Cawbourne Magic but we've run into him again," Hardman added.

"To win we've got to begin and get ahead of him early like last week. We can't afford to give him a start.

"I've changed a few things up with Zipping Whiskey's training and it seems to be working. I've given up on box practice with him because it doesn't do him any good.

"He's off the walking machine and I'm treating him more like a sprinter."

Ritza Piper makes it 5 from 7 at Wentworth Park Greyhounds, winning Summer Distance Plate Heat 2 in 42.16 from Zipping Neutron, Stagger Out Lee and Osprey Storm.

Full Results: https://t.co/s7uS61sxsf#thedogs #wentypark #greyhoundracing pic.twitter.com/YmVxaT3sdT

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) January 14, 2023

Hardman declares Zipping Whiskey a six length quicker dog than Zipping Neutron where remarkably, despite all their talent, it took the duo 12 starts between them to break through for their maiden wins.

"The times they were running as pups were phenomenal," Hardman said.

"Yet I couldn't win a race with them, anywhere!

"But I persevered and with age and experience they've found their way as they've stepped up in distance. I had a lot of people early on telling me they were no good. I'm just glad I kept the faith."

In heat five, Zipping Neutron, which has built a love affair with The Gardens, is a $4.20 second favourite behind Queensland visitor Sorority ($3.20) while Palawa King is in the market also at $5.

"I was a bit disappointed with his (Zipping Neutron) run over 500m at Wenty last week – I thought he would have got to the line a bit better," the trainer added.

"But up to 700m and back to The Gardens is in his favour. If you could mix Zipping Whiskey's ability and Zipping Neutron's traits, you'd have one hell of a dog."

The five winners and fastest three seconds from Friday night's The 715 heats will progress through to Saturday week's $500,000-to-the-winner final where a bumper Novocastrian crowd will be in attendance.