Miner’s Moss almost slipped over at start before finishing fifth at his Wentworth Park debut last Friday night and connections of the bush flyer expect him to be hard to beat in the second event at the twilight meeting on Friday.
Miner’s Moss had won 14 of 35 provincial races before tackling the Wentworth Park circuit “sight unseen’’ last Friday.
The dog seemed to bungle the start but DENIS Reid, whose son Mathew trains the dog at Old Bonalbo, near Murwillumbah, said that was not the full story.
"From behind the boxes Mathew said the dog seemed to jump okay but then his back legs went from under him, apparently he slipped as he hit the ground," DENIS said.
"He had not trialled at Wenty before last week and since then has gone to Gosford on Tuesday night and led all the way in fast time.
"Miner’s Moss has limited ability but he is a genuine dog."
DENIS’ faint praise for Miner’s Moss is not surprising as the veteran trainer does not hand out plaudits too freely.
He trained the 1989 Brisbane Cup winner Golden Fox along with 1988 Association Cup winner Whip Tip so has had too many topliners to get carried away with a dog yet to win in Sydney.
But Miner’s Moss has posted brilliant times like 24.06 at Lismore and 22.50 and 25.28 at Maitland so looks likely to be the pacemaker on Friday.
His danger is obviously the Mary Wright-trained Supercell, who has box eight and won in 30.31 at Wentworth Park two starts back.
Supercell has not won in four starts from the outside draw but the dog did want to circle his rivals when he won from box three at Wentworth Park on January 25.
He flopped when sixth at his only subsequent city outing but was badly away and collided immediately so that failure can be overlooked.
Safest bet on Friday should be Queensland-trained Margiris in the Maitland To City final.
Margiris’ Maitland 450m heat time of 25.43 was bettered by King Sapphire’s 25.35 performance but while King Sapphire struggles to run 520m the extra distance of Friday’s race will suit the Queenslander.
Margiris came from third early to finish second at his only Wentworth Park start after exiting box seven and he has drawn ideally on the rails on Friday.
King Sapphire is fast early but races wide and at his most recent Wentworth Park outing he disputed the early lead before weakening to finish last on October 18.
Northern rivers speedster Glenreagh Rocket should "pinch" race three on Friday night.
This race is crammed with other front-runners like Fancy Rhythm, Here’s Roary, Woods and Teddie Boy so the rails draw should be a huge advantage for Glenreagh Rocket.
At his only Wentworth Park start Glenreagh Rocket set up a huge early lead before being run down by John’s Son, but that dog has subsequently won again at Wentworth Park in brilliant style and is renowned for his strength at the end of 520m.
Glenreagh Rocket’s 45 country starts have resulted in a remarkable 20 wins and the dog should enhance this astonishing strike rate on Friday night.
Wot Ya Got resumes from a spell in race five and while she was beaten at her only previous start from box eight the Jason Magri-trained chaser has scored three of her six wins from boxes five and six so can handle the outside.
When she led throughout at Wentworth Park on November 30 Wot Ya Got recorded dazzling splits of 5.40, 13.73 and 17.89 on her way to a 29.92 victory and a repeat of those sectionals will see her lead throughout on Friday.
Best Bet: Margiris (Race 11)
Best Value: Glenreagh Rocket (Race 3)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 8, 4, 3
Race 6 - 8, 2, 3
Race 7 - 2, 3
Race 8 - 2, 4, 8
$20 for 37.03%
