Hector Kahn has settled in well with new trainer DEAN Swain and has trialled brilliantly at Wentworth Park in preparation for Saturday night’s Ben Shearer Stakes (520m) at the Glebe track.
Hector Kahn made the pace and ran sizzling splits of 5.39 and 13.75 before finishing second to Swain’s Bobby Blanco at his most recent start at Wentworth Park on June 28.
The dog was in the kennels of Peter Lagogiane for that race but has since been transferred to DEAN Swain’s care.
“Peter and I train differently so I gave Hector Kahn three weeks off before nominating him to give the dog time to settle into his new surroundings,’’ Swain said.
“He has done that nicely and on Tuesday I slipped him around Wentworth Park from pen to pen and he clocked 15.12.
“I was really happy with that run because he went three lengths faster than my bitch Swan’s Mavis who has won two races at Wentworth Park.
“If dogs break 15 seconds from pen to pen they are absolutely airborne.’’
With DEAN taking Rue De Kahn and Push It to Melbourne for the Maturity semi-finals at The Meadows on Saturday night, his wife Danielle, who once won the Come Dine With Me TV show cooking challenge, will bring the Swain team to Wentworth Park.
Crowd favourite Gradence lines up for his 98th race in Saturday night’s first Rapidvite Sprint Series heat and trainer Mark Gatt believes the dog is in a “winnable’’ race.
“There are only seven starters, which is to Gradence’s advantage, and I think he might get a bit of a sit behind a couple of the front runners,’’ Gatt said.
“Gradence turned four in May but is enjoying his racing and is going well so there are no plans to retire him.
“Anyhow, he picks up a cheque every week and most of the time he pays the meat and kibble bill for the rest of the kennel.’’
Edge, who turns four in October, is boxed to take out heat two of the Rapidvite after coming up with his favourite alley, the rails.
He has won five of his 10 starts wearing the red rug and with Ritza Raider, who uses a bit of the track, in box two, he should get a clear run to the first turn.
Edge has won 20 races, including eight at the Glebe track, but Jenny Barnett, whose husband Graeme trains the dog, says he is trialling “as well as ever.’’
“He has had a couple of weeks off because at his last start at Wenty, from box seven, he put a toenail through his foot,’’ Jenny said.
“But he is 100 per cent again now and getting box one is a big plus.
“Once a dog gets to top grade the box draw is crucial so Edge is well positioned.
“But he will need to begin cleanly and hopefully get to the first turn in the lead because Queen Esther, who has box six, is going really well at the moment.’’
Best Bet: Hector Kahn (Race 2)
Best Value: Sorrento Moon (Race 10)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 2, 1, 8
Race 6 – 1, 2, 4
Race 7 – 2, 3
Race 8 – 1, 6
$20 for 55.55%
