Top trainer Mark Gatt admits he is “no fan” of box one at Wentworth Park but concedes Ritza Hattie seems ideally positioned on the rails in her heat of the Group 3 Evans & Son Jewellers Ladies Bracelet on Saturday night.
Ritza Hattie (pictured) has box one in heat two of the female-only series, where she will back up from her brilliant 29.47 win in the Group 3 Ambrosoli last weekend. The victory was the third at Group level for Ritza Hattie and the daughter of Bombastic Shiraz will be aiming to notch up a fourth in the Ladies Bracelet series.
“Greyhounds can miss the kick from box one at Wenty but...I’ve had a look at the replays and Gnarly Azz, who has box two in Ritza Hattie’s race, usually wants to use a bit of the track,” Gatt said.
“After the Bracelet I’ll take Ritza Hattie to Melbourne for the Sapphire Crown Classic heats on May 8.”
If Ritza Hattie does win, it will only be the second time in the past five Laurels that a Victorian has not won the race.
Sydney’s Lagoon Lowanna won the 2013 Bracelet final in 29.98 for Ray Webster, a race in which Victoria’s Xylia Allen finished third, but Victorians had scored in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Cindeen Shelby was successful in 2010, then Tonneli Bale broke the race record with a 29.66 performance in 2011 while a year later Desalle Bale won in 30.10.
Leading the Victorian charge this year will be Darren McDonald. Having landed last week’s Association Cup final with Sweet It Is, McDonald will be represented by Quick Succession in Saturday night’s third heat.
Quick Succession trialled a brilliant 29.76 at Wentworth Park on Golden Easter Egg night and has won seven of her 20 Victorian races.
She will be a warm favourite but faces stern opposition from Doreen Drynan’s local flyer Chica Destacada, who will relish having box seven.
Chica Destacada ran off the track at the first turn when fifth, from box four, in a Golden Easter Egg heat on April 5, losing all chance.
She won her only start from box seven while Quick Succession has been beaten in each her two runs from box two, which is the draw she has on Saturday.
In the night’s other action, Gatt also lines up Freddy Diesel in the Sportingbet Stakes and the Thirlmere trainer thinks he is a strong winning chance.
“I was rapt in Freddy’s run when he finished second to My Boy Snoop at Wentworth Park last Saturday and he is going better than ever,” Gatt said.
Royal Sprite returns from a 10 week layoff in Saturday night’s www.wentworthpark.com.au Stakes but trainer Jane Carruthers has sounded a word of warning.
“He is going well enough otherwise he wouldn’t be nominated but he has not been trialling at his absolute best,’’ Jane said.
“I gave him a drag around at Wentworth Park on Tuesday and then slipped him post to post and his time was disappointing.
“But in hindsight I think the drag around might have sapped his energy.’’
Best Bet: Freddy Diesel (Race 10)
Best Value: Suits Us (Race 4)
Quaddie: race 5 – 5, 7, 8
Race 6 – 1, 6
Race 7 – 7, 2
Race 8 – 4, 2, 7
$20 for 55.55%
