Filante looks to be the new favourite to win the Sportingbet Magic Maiden final following the shock scratching of Shakey Jakey.
Shakey Jakey, who broke the Wentworth Park track record at his first ever race start, was taken out of the series last night due to an injured shoulder.
His abscence now makes the Magic Maiden a wide open affair, with many believing Filante is now the one to beat, despite drawing box five in the second semi final.
Victorian trainer DAVE Knocker, whose partner Janet Cottrell trains Filante, believes the dog’s early speed can offset the draw.
"I was really pleased with how he went in his heat at Wentworth Park last Sunday and he pulled up superbly," DAVE said.
"Filante clocked 29.78 at his first look at Wenty in a performance trial on March 14 and he recorded identical time in his heat.
"But what was encouraging was that he posted quicker sectional times last Sunday.
"I’ve had a good look at all the replays from the heats and the way they are boxed I think Filante should be running either first or second at the first corner.
"Organic Choice, who has box four, does step to the right at the start, but on times I think Filante should be able to clear her safely."
Nowra trainer Steve White’s Paua To Roar looks the only threat to a Victorian quinella in the first Magic Maiden semi.
Paua To Roar led throughout in his heat in 30.03, recording a sizzling first split of 5.35 and quick second and third sections of 13.72 and 17.88.
Anything Less and All Strung Out, from top Victorian mentor Glenn Rounds’ kennels, look the dangers.
Although Anything Less posted splits of 5.48, 14.06 and 18.16 in his heat his overall time was a brilliant 29.92.
All Strung Out was badly checked when a close second at the first turn and did well to come from midfield on the back straight to finish third in his heat.
After Sunday’s heats caretaker trainer Marty Hallinan, who cared for the dogs while Glenn Rounds was on holidays, said: "All Strung Out has the reputation of being slightly quicker but I really like the look of Anything Less."
When the Rounds pair won their performance trials at Wentworth Park on March 22, Anything Less covered the 520m in a smart 29.79 while All Strung Out recorded a flying 29.66.
The fourth semi looks a match between the ideally drawn Steve White-trained Tommy Brislane in box eight and Jason Mackay’s Zipping Weston in box three.
Hooksy, subject of a $350,000 offer from China on the eve of his scorching 29.44 heat win, stands out in the fourth semi-final of the Macro Meats New Sensation on Friday night.
Among the more open semi finals of the New Sensation is the third run-off where the draw favours the Andrew Bayliss-trained Velvet Flame, who has box three, over Cawbourne Whip, My Boy Snoop and My Kinda Music.
Andrew believes Velvet Flame, who clocked a slick 29.97 in her all-the-way heat win last Friday night, can eventually get down to 29.70 or 29.80 at Wentworth Park.
"She went in a bit under done last week and if she can hold out My Kinda Music and the speedy Fashion Princess, who have drawn four and five, in the run to the first turn, Velvet Flame should go close to winning," Andrew said.
"I also have Jorelle and Spanky’s Legacy in race nine and ten on Friday and they have strong chances too.
"Velvet Flame is two tenths of a second quicker than them but Jorelle, who had no luck when unplaced at Wenty last week, is perfectly boxed in one and Spanky’s Legacy is improving all the time.
"He doesn’t begin the best but he is ideally drawn in box eight and if he can step away a little better than he did last week he has a good show."
Best Bet: Silent Effective (Race 6)
Best Value: Spanky’s Legacy (Race 10)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 2, 1, 4
Race 6 – 2, 8, 7
Race 7 – 3, 7, 1
Race 8 – 3, 8
$20 for 37.03%
