It is not often one sees a greyhound run in and collide from box two but that is just what Francois Dryva did when he won his heat of the Sportingbet Dapto To Wenty series on March 13.
Francois Dryva’s penchant for the rails did not take anything away from his performance though and the Ruth King-trained dog led throughout in a blistering 29.72, a healthy 0.19 faster than the other heat winner Special Spice.
While Special Spice, box six, looks Francois Dryva’s only danger in Friday night’s Wentworth Park final, the box two draw favours the fastest qualifier.
"He wants the rails badly," Ruth King said.
"Francois Dryva is a quick dog but needs to keep drawing one, two or three.
"Actually I prefer him in box two because having a greyhound inside him will stop him running in and hitting the running rail.
"Francois Dryva is owned at Tweed Heads by Kerry Vardy, and I’ve trained dogs for him previously.
“If they have ability he sends them down here rather than to Queensland because of the better prize money in NSW."
Big Oz has won three of his four starts from box seven but trainer Charlie Lamb is happy with the dog’s box three draw in Friday night’s Balmain Tigers Stakes.
Big Oz followed a sizzling 29.59 last-to-first –win at Unibet Gardens on March 7 with a luckless second, from box four, at his Wentworth Park debut last Friday.
"Whether he wants inside or outside is a good question," Charlie said.
"I’m still working him but to me he looks like an inside box dog and the way they are drawn on Friday I think he is positioned where he wants to be.
"Big Oz had not seen Wentworth Park before last week’s run so I was very pleased with his effort.
"He has a motor and in his favour is that he also has a good bit of track sense."
Best value bet on Friday is the consistent Quota Of CASH, who has box five in the Kennels Close Early Stakes.
Quota Of CASH has won only three of his 27 starts but has been placed on 10 occasions and has never been in better form than now.
After being placed behind smart sprinters Classy Sahara and Chica Destacada at Wentworth Park in February the Noel Wright-trained dog finished strongly to win in handy time over 515m at Gosford.
He missed a place for the first time at Wentworth Park last Friday but his fourth to Lacey Lois was a good effort as he was slowly away and hampered at the first turn.
On Friday, Weekend Wes, Collision Earth and Mainbrace are likely to vie for the early lead but Quota Of CASH, who has a strong finish, is not badly placed in box five.
Black Revolver, box four, and Fancy Marcus, box six, are notoriously slow beginners so Quota Of CASH should get room to move in the run to the first turn.
Friday’s meeting heralds the Wentworth Park debut of Temora Cup winner My Kinda Music, who meets moderate opposition in the Tigers Den Club Stakes.
My Kinda Music has 11 starts for eight win and two seconds on provincial and country tracks and on times will have no trouble stepping up to city class.
Best Bet: Francois Dryva (Race 5)
Best Value: Quota Of CASH (Race 1)
Quaddie: - Race 5 – 2, 6
Race 6 – 8, 5, 3
Rac 7 – 2, 3
Race 8 – 3, 4, 6
$20 for 55.55%
