Sweet It Is clocked 29.60 in a 520m Wentworth Park trial before her outstanding second in her heat of the AAA Radiator Specialists Association Cup, but trainer Darren McDonald concedes she "has the job ahead" to be any match against track record holder Xylia Allen and Dyna Willow (pictured) in Saturday night’s Group 1 staying final.
While 29.60 is an astonishing time for a stayer, especially coming just four days before the Cup heats, Darren is concerned about Sweet It Is’ racing habits.
Clients of Darren’s paid $95,000 for Sweet It Is in mid-March and the bitch followed a first-up second at Geelong with a Sandown 715m win before her great second to Dyna Willow at Wentworth Park.
“There is no doubt Sweet It Is has a big motor but I have to get her to bring her trial form to the races,’’ Darren said.
“In her heat she didn’t seem confident enough to go inside the tiring Shoe Laces Lady on the back straight and that hesitation cost her the race.
“She can’t afford to always being giving greyhounds like Xylia Allen and Dyna Willow a start.’’
While Sweet It Is will be backed to beat Xylia Allen, the new Wentworth Park 720m record holder looks boxed to win.
She rails well and from box two seems set to lead throughout as in her heat she not only smashed Dyna Willow’s 720m record but also easily bettered Ballerina Legend’s 280m record established over 10 years ago.
Hooksy, fastest heat and semi-final winner, will be all the rage for Saturday night’s final of the Group 3 Macro Meats New Sensation.
The dog led from the first turn to win his heat and semi final from box three and has the same good draw in the final.
And trainer Jimmy Auld says the dog has never been better.
“Actually he pulled up better After his semi-final than he did following his heat win,’’ Jimmy said.
“The heat and semi were only seven days apart and having an extra day before this week’s final has been a bonus.
“After the New Sensation I plan to take Hooksy to Albion Park for the heats of the group two Queensland Derby on April 24.’’
Trainer Jason Mackay believes a more favourable draw gives ZIPPING Weston the edge over his litter brother and kennelmate ZIPPING Bruno in Saturday night’s Group 3 Sportingbet Magic Maiden final at Wentworth Park.
ZIPPING Weston was a luckless second to Tommy Brislane in his semi-final but had clocked a blistering 29.62 in his heat win.
ZIPPING Bruno took the lead on the back straight to win his semi in 29.81 After overcoming difficulties to clock 30.13 in his heat win.
“There is nothing between my pair but Weston has box two and Bruno has four so Weston has the better draw,’’ Jason said.
Jason Mackay won the 2011 Magic Maiden final with ZIPPING Man, a race in which his kennelmate ZIPPING Lad flashed home to finish third.
“ZIPPING Weston and ZIPPING Bruno, my runners this year, are on a par with my 2011 finalists,’’ Jason said.
Best Bet: Buckle Up Wes (Race 7)
Best Value: Bearded Midget (Race 10)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 2, 3, 4
Race 6 – 3, 2, 8
Race 7 – 1, 3
Race 8 – 1, 8
$20 for 55.55%
