Lucy Wires (5) came out humming last week to go within a whisker of the track record and qualify the fastest for the Group 2 Sportingbet Summer Distance Plate at Wentworth Park on Saturday night. The final is Race 6 on the card at 9:10pm.
Comments: Norm Rinaldi (Trainer): “Fingers crossed. He's had an interrupted preparation after he pulled a toenail out and we've been getting him back from that. From box one, we'll see what happens. He went okay last week, he's a little bit under-prepared but hopefully he'll give a good showing. He's over the toenail now and should give a good account of himself.”
Comments: Mark Swift (Trainer) – “He loves Wentworth Park, he always performs well there. I like him close where he is rather than out. I think Lucy Wires and Benarkin will lead him as he has no early speed but if he's sitting in the top four he can run them down providing Lucy Wires doesn't get too far ahead. When he went the 41.88 there a while back, his run home was better than hers (Lucy Wires) the other night. He made the wrong decision in his heat last week. He's just got to let them not get too far ahead. They're good dogs and you've just got to hope for a bit of luck.”
Comments: George Tsohalis (Owner) – “We are hoping. We had a setback after the third in the Summer Cup and we've nursed her along. She has had very little work coming into this series. To do well, she has to be up there early as you can't give these dogs a start. If she can get in front of Destini Fireball and lob on the rail, I'm confident she can run a place. It depends on what Lucy Wires does, if she jumps out it's all over. I'm extremely happy with the draw.”
Comments: Trainer unavailable for comment. ARG opinion is – Led a long way last week and was run down by a more seasoned stayer. May well lead here again but there will be plenty waiting to pounce in the closing stages of the race.
Comments: Robert Britton (Trainer) – “Lucy Wires is my best chance I think based on last week and the time she ran. The box draw has turned the race upside down. The last two times she has come out good, has been from inside boxes. I think she will be very hard to beat if she gets a clear run in the first half of the race.”
Comments: Tammy Collins (Kennel Representative) – “It is a tough race, she's going to need a bit of luck early and she'll be in it. She missed the start last week but the six also came down on her and had her twisted sideways all the way into the corner. She doesn't like a lot of pressure like that either, so if she can jump with them and sort of have a bit of room to muster she's okay.”
Comments: Robert Britton (Trainer) – “He makes every second final, but doesn't win a lot, but saying that he's the type of dog that could run a place. He is going well at the moment. If it turns out to be one of those roughly run races, he'd be the dog you would be looking at as he will be coming home with a wet sail.”
Comments: Robert Britton (Trainer) – “I was absolutely wrapped with her run last week. I'm a bit disappointed she drew the eight. She hadn't been to Wentworth Park over the distance and I expect she can be a big improver in the race if she can get a clean run.”
Comments: ARG opinion is – Has returned from a successful Victorian campaign. He's yet to win at Wentworth Park over the staying trip and will need some luck to feature.
Comments: ARG opinion is: She hasn't run a place at Wentworth Park and has not run anything flash at the track to date. Will struggle if she gets a start.
Best Wentworth Park Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
NBT
43.24
16.60
16.90
This will be an interesting final. Lucy Wires (5) isn't generally known for leading and many will be wondering if she can do it three times in a row, after pinging the lids in a handicap event at The Meadows, and in last weeks heat. She has box five for the final, a box she hasn't started from before. If she doesn't lead, she will need to put herself in a position where she isn't being knocked around by other dogs in the run to the first turn.
Destini Fireball (1) has been a grand Group race campaigner and he's drawn the suitable inside draw. He was chasing Lucy Wires for a long way last week. He could very well lead from this draw, but he will have to contend with Benarkin (2) early as Benarkin showed great early speed to break 16 past the post the first time. He was eventually run down by Born Ali (8) who will be drawn on the extreme outside for this final. She won her first start over 720 metres at Wentworth Park last week in 42.35. She will have to run quicker then that to win this final.
Dyna Willow (4) was hampered early last week but if she leads this week, it will be hard for anyone to get hold of her on the line as she has recorded 41.92 on two previous occasions at the track. Set To Shine (3) needs to be up there early to be a chance. She has had a hampered preparation, but is getting fitter each run and did run third here in the Summer Cup in December.
Mimicking (7) will be back near the tail of the field early, but he always runs an honest race and depending on what happens in the run he can always run home for a place, as he has never been unplaced over this distance at Wentworth Park.
A big danger in the race is track specialist Smart Valentino (2). He would have gotten a lot closer to Lucy Wires last week but he made the wrong decision rounding the home turn and climbed all over the back of Destini Fireball. He likes the inside draw and will be looking to pounce down the Wentworth Park home straight.
The winner of this race will receive $40,000 for their efforts.