Bellbird trainer Brett Moore will be happy just to see Bedazzled Babe get around safely again on Tuesday night at The Gardens when she clashes with track record-holder Lil Doo.
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Bedazzled Babe, Moore's first greyhound, won her first eight starts, breaking The Gardens' 272-metre track record with a run of 15.54 seconds in the process.
However, injuries have restricted her to only three starts, and no wins, since October. A dislocated toe, fractured fibula and a torn pad have been setbacks.
She returned from 10 weeks off with a fourth at The Gardens last Friday after a slow start. She faces an even tougher test against Lil Doo, which lowered the 272m record to 15.29.
"Lil Doo and Blue Bronte, they are too quick early," Moore said.
"I was pleased to see Blue Bronte was scratched but the other dog is still there and she's beat us before."
Moore hoped Bedazzled Babe could stay sound ahead of longer tests.
"I'm convinced she's not a 270 dog, even though she broke the record there a while back," he said. "They are opening Richmond back up, so we'll be going there for the 330, 400 over the next few starts and build her up. She's suited to a bigger track."
"She went within 0.02 of the track record there over the 330, so she's suited over that and if she can get over 400 at Maitland, I think that will suit her down to the ground.
"But it's just about getting the work into her without her breaking down.
"She'll just get around injury-free hopefully.
"I think she'll get there. She's put in a few trials at Redhead that say she hasn't lost anything."
Meanwhile, Green Siren was an impressive winner for Sawyers Gully trainer Darryl Thomas at Gosford on Monday night, powering to a 13-length victory. The 515-metre maiden win came at his third start.