Will Deja Vu Strike Again In New Sensation Final?
Greyhound enthusiasts can be forgiven for having a sense of deja vu last Friday night, as Clay Mullens star chaser Fast Archer clocked a sizzling 29.87 in his semi-final victory, identical to his heat performance one week prior. The inform son of Collision and Clay Model, will be searching for his sixth consecutive win, however faces the tough task of conquering the Group Three New Sensation final from box eight.
Beginning in brilliant fashion from the wide draw, Fast Archer quickly held off his rivals at the run to the first turn, recording a solid 5.45 first section. No doubt the most pleasing aspect for Londonderry trainer Clay Mullens was the run home time of 15.96, the fastest of all four semi-finals, which will play a vital role in the proceedings of this week's final.
Keeping his perfect Wentworth Park record intact was the Jane Carruthers trained Charmed Assassin, who has been a formidable force in the series thus far having dominating both his heat and semi-final victories, with the added bonus of coming up with a favourable box three in this week's final. Displaying blistering early speed in running 5.44 to the first peg, the smart son of Magic Sprite and Assassin Journey handled the tricky box six beautifully, leading all the way in a time of 29.87, equal to the best of the semi-finals and firmly cementing his place as a genuine contender in this week's final.
Despite coming up with box five in this week's final, Johnny Fire handled the awkward draw impeccably in his semi-final victory last week clocking a speedy 29.88 and maintaining his perfect Wentworth Park statistics of two wins from two starts. Trained on the Central Coast by Trevor Hagney, the son of Knocka Norris and Gunna Oz is yet to be unplaced in any of his seventeen starts and will raise no eyebrows if he continues his remarkable run this week.
Astute trainer Jason Mackay could return to his Richmond Vale property on Saturday night with an astonishing four Group final triumphs in his grasp including; the Group One Golden Easter Egg, Group Three New Sensation, Group Three Ultra Sense and Group Three Magic Maiden final. A litter brother to new Wentworth Park track record holder and Easter Egg finalist Punch One Out, One Inch Punch recruited plenty of admirers in his semi-final win clocking a respectable 29.97 after beginning slowly from box seven, before mowing down his rivals and streaking away to score by 4.5 lengths. Coming up with a challenging box six in the final, some early luck would be the only element needed to possibly give Mackay a group victory running treble.
The inaugural running of the $25,000 to the winner event is guaranteed to be won in the coming years by some outstanding prodigy's of racing, with all eight finalists engaged in Saturday night's final deserving flag bearers of the adequately named New Sensation.
Group Three New Sensation Final 8.28pm (NSW time)
1. Lachlan Loaded – Christopher Nutt ($4.20) Comes up with the coveted red rug and genuine early speed can be a threat
2. Cawbourne Hitman – Anthony Lord ($18.00) Stuck on well behind best of the night figures last week. Will need to lift.
3. Charmed Assassin – Jane Carruthers ($3.80) Blistering early speed, will take some catching if she leads at the first turn.
4. Cawbourne Classy – Anthony Lord ($21.00) Ran a solid second last week behind Charmed Assassin, will need to lift to compensate the poor box draw.
5. Johnny Fire – Trevor Hagney ($5.00) Is capable of repeating the same impressive performance as last week from this box
6. One Inch Punch – Jason Mackay ($5.00) In the kennel of NSW hottest trainer, look for her at the finish
7. Haven – Lesley Hannaford ($15.00) Has solid series form, will need to begin well from this box
8. Fast Archer – Clay Mullens ($4.20) In red hot form from this box. Will get the fly from this draw and is capable of leading all the way again