Silent Effective has drawn the tougher of the two National Sprint Championship heats at Wentworth Park on Saturday night but trainer Darren Sultana believes his dog is up to the task, “depending on what happens at the start.’’
The promising greyhound (pictured) is easily the least experienced runner in the powerful second heat, having had only three Wentworth Park races for two wins.
But Sultana, who rates Silent Effective “by far’’ the fastest greyhound he has trained, doesn’t think his dog’s inexperience will be a problem.
“The box two draw is okay depending on what happens when the lids go up,’’ he said.
“Silent Effective always seems to find another dog wanting to crash to the fence or another running off the track.
“But the draw itself is fine because he is a dog who will rail underneath or go around his rivals, it doesn’t matter to him.
“At his last start at Maitland he got knocked to the ground in the middle stages and I was amazed he was able to even walk off the track, let alone just get beaten for third placing.
“Saturday’s is a hot field but I told the owner that Silent Effective was always going to have to meet greyhounds of this quality in a race like this.
“Silent Effective is very fit but because he hasn’t raced at Wenty for a while in the back of my mind I would have liked one more week to get him ready.’’
One of Saturday’s best value bets is front runner Bella Senora in the AAA Radiator Specialists Stakes.
Bella Senora turns three in November but has had only 28 starts.
Six of them have been at Wentworth Park, which have resulted in two wins.
“She had a few injuries along the way, nothing major, but I decided to give her some time off,’’ trainer Adam Wade said.
“She has come back pretty good and as long as she gets a clear run in the first 20 or 30 metres without getting crowded I think she will be hard to beat.
“I was very pleased with Bella Senora’s last start win at Maitland because she was up against some good dogs.
“She led quickly and while she admittedly got a break on the field when her rivals jammed up, she kicked on gamely near the winning post.’’
Box one in the first and lesser of the two National Sprint Championship heats makes the in-form Queen Esther look the bet of the night at the Glebe track.
Queen Esther has won five of her 10 starts from box one and with the greyhounds drawn in boxes two, three and four preferring to “use a bit of the track’’ she seems assured of a clear run to the all important first turn.
Cosmic Rosie has not won in four Wentworth Park starts but she has the draw to break through for her first city win in heat two of the National Distance Championship.
Her third to Painted Dotty and Sneaky Bonanza at the track last Saturday was her best Wenty performance since her first-up second to Irinka Hope on June 28.
In chasing Irinka Hope home Cosmic Rosie clocked figures of 42.33 and a repeat of that time should win Saturday night’s race comfortably.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert tips, click here.
Best Bet: Queen Esther (Race 7)
Best Value: Bella Senora (Race 1)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 7, 2, 1
Race 6 – 6, 7
Race 7 – 1, 7
Race 8 – 2, 6, 4
