Gut Wrenching is trialling faster than when she won at Wentworth Park last month but her box manners, not her rivals, are trainer Troy Donaldson’s main concern going into Friday night’s Greyhounds Makes Great Pets Stakes.
Gut Wrenching led throughout at her most recent Wentworth Park outing, easily beating a stronger field than she opposes on Friday night and clocking 29.91 - brilliant figures for a maiden.
“But she is aptly named because when I put her in the starting boxes I never know whether she will come out first or last,’’ Donaldson said.
“After her Wenty win I took her to The Gardens and Gosford looking for easy races, but she blew the start each time before registering a win and two placings.
“It seems Wentworth Park is the only place Gut Wrenching jumps cleanly so she can live there from now on as far as I am concerned.
“I’ve even nominated her for Wentworth Park on Monday night too.’’
Glowing Opal, who is closely related to Australian Greyhound of the Year finalist Black Magic Opal, is boxed to win first up at Wentworth Park on Friday night.
Trained by Wendy Brown for her breeder Carol Hudson, Glowing Opal has drawn the rails in The Gardens to Wenty final.
She should get a clear run as Zulu Mystique (box two), is a wide runner, while Lucy Lobster and Victory Belle, drawn in three and four, also use a bit of the track.
Glowing Opal won her heat at The Gardens in 29.98 but while Lucy Lobster’s 29.90 was fastest qualifying time, the draw should prove a big leveller.
Carol and Les Hudson sold Black Magic Opal for a reported $100,000 to a client of Melbourne trainer Jason Thompson and the dog has now amassed $587,865 in stakes.
“Glowing Opal is no Black Magic Opal but she is going pretty well,’’ Wendy Brown’s husband John said. “The only problem is that she has not raced or been trialled at Wentworth Park.
“Carol and Les originally trained Glowing Opal but when they went on holidays to Hawaii they asked Wendy to take her and they have left her in our care.’’
Kool Larocca should only have to come out of the boxes on terms with his rivals to win Friday night’s Marsh Pry Ltd Stakes.
The dog overcame a moderate start to lead at the first turn before winning at his Wentworth Park debut on July 5 in a slick 29.93.
He then bungled the start completely at the Glebe track last Friday before showing dazzling pace to be fourth at the first turn where he was skittled and lost all chance.
Box six is a hang-up but Stylish Jenmar is Friday night’s best value bet in the Schweppes Solo Stakes.
She is usually a good beginner but came out last before finishing a sound fifth in a much harder Wentworth Park race last Saturday night.
Best Bet: Kool Larocca (Race 2)
Best Value: Stylish Jenmar (Race 6)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 4, 1
Race 6 – 6, 1
Race 7 – 8, 2, 6
Race 8 – 4, 1, 5
$20 for 55.55%
