Victorian trainer Robert Britton had a night to remember at Wentworth Park last Saturday and will return this week with strong claims of winning two Group finals.
Britton qualified three runners for the Group 2 Sportingbet Summer Distance Plate (720m) and will also line-up the NSW-owned Iona Seven in the Group 1 Sportingbet Paws Of Thunder (520m).
Lucy Wires (pictured) came within one-hundredth of a second of breaking Miata's 720m Wentworth Park track record when she recorded a time of 41.82 leading throughout to beat reigning National Distance Champion Smart Valentino in the second heat of the Summer Plate last weekend.
The Britton-trained Born Ali was impressive winning the opening qualifier in 42.35 with kennelmate Mimicking finishing third.
However, the draw for the final has not been kind with Lucky Wires to start from box five, Mimicking in seven and Born Ali out in box eight.
"It is certainly not the draws I would have liked," Britton said.
"I was hoping at least one of them would draw an inside box."
Lucy Wires came from a long way back to win the Sydney Cup at her previous visit to Wentworth Park but has now led to win her past two starts.
"She has always had good box speed but has never used it," Britton said.
"She would always jump with them and then drop out. Maybe it is a confidence thing and I'm hoping she will continue to jump like she has at her past two."
The Tony Brett-trained Benarkin recorded very fast early sectionals in the opening heat of the Summer Plate last weekend when run down by Born Ali, and if he shows the same pace from box four he should give Lucy Wires plenty of room at the start.
"That will certainly help her," Britton said.
"I'm just hoping she can get a clear run early because she is only a very finely built, very leggy bitch and is easily knocked off balance.
"That happened a couple of times early in her career and I think that might have been the reason she would always drop out early.
"But her confidence is high now so hopefully she comes out running on Saturday night.
"Born Ali is really starting to develop into a very good stayer and although she might not be up to the real top stayers yet she continues to improve, while Mimicking gets back and runs on but is a very capable stayer on his day."
Iona Seven will start from box six in the $100,000 to-the-winner Paws Of Thunder after beating a gallant Punch One Out and Xylia Allen in the toughest heat of the night in a smart 29.62.
"She won her heat from box seven but there is a lot more pace inside her in the final," Britton said.
"But she is a terrific chaser and always gives her best, and last week's win was in a very tough race so she's in with a chance."
Saturday night's feature race fields
Group 2 Sportingbet Summer Distance Plate 720m
1 Destini Fireball, 2 Smart Valentino, 3 Set To Shine, 4 Benarkin, 5 Lucy Wires, 6 Dyna Willow, 7 Mimicking, 8 Born Ali, 9 Freddy's Smile, 10 Dyna Werribee
Group 1 Sportingbet Paws Of Thunder 520m
1 Veyron Bale, 2 Manyana Groper, 3 Double Twist, 4 Buckle Up Wes, 5 Allen Malik (scratched), 6 Iona Seven, 7 National Time (scratched), 8 Boyce Road, 9 Punch One Out, 10 Peter Rocket
