Chica Destacada, who is expected to win Saturday night’s NSW final at Wentworth Park, almost didn’t make it to the National Sprint Championship heats.
The Doreen Drynan-trained bitch led throughout to win her heat by nearly nine lengths in 29.60, 0.17 faster than the figures posted by the other heat victor Queen Esther.
Chica Destacada uses a bit of the track but has a great draw in Saturday night’s final as she will exit box three and has the two slowest beginners in the race, Silent Effective (pictured) and Bessy Boo, drawn either side of her.
But Doreen Drynan, who won the NSW sprint finals in 1989 and 1990 with Mister Britain, has revealed that Chica Destacada almost missed contesting the series.
“We took her to Perth for the WA Oaks and somewhere along the way she picked up a respiratory infection,’’ Drynan said.
“After she ran sixth to Queen Esther at Wentworth Park on July 12 she was on medication for a fortnight and I thought she had fully recovered. But at her next run, at Wentworth Park on July 26, she led clearly but hit a brick wall and wound up a distant third to Double Twist.
“After that I knew she wasn’t 100 per cent so took her back to our veterinary surgeon and if he hadn’t assured me she was completely recovered I wasn’t going to start her in the Nationals.’’
Doreen Drynan also has Take It All, the four-year-old veteran of the field, in box one in Saturday’s state final.
“If I trial them on their own Take It All is only a tenth or two slower than Chica Destacada,’’ Drynan said. “But Chica Destacada has far superior early pace.’’
Not so fortunate was Irinka Hope, who won at her Wentworth Park 720m debut in a sizzling 41.99 on June 28 and looked a logical candidate for the National Distance Championship.
But After Irinka Hope flopped in finishing a distant sixth to Dusty Moonshine at the Glebe track on July 4 trainer Ray Smith abandoned plans to start his bitch in the Nationals.
Irinka Hope returns to Wentworth Park in Saturday night’s 720m Adopt A Greyhound Stakes where she is ideally drawn in box one.
“After her poor Wenty run on July 4 she performed disappointingly in a 535m race at Richmond on July 26,’’ Smith said.
“Hopefully whatever the problem was is behind her because in two subsequent trials she has performed close to her best.
“Box one is good but I’m a bit concerned about Tifi For Me in box two, because from what I’ve seen of her she goes left at the start.’’
Connections were hoping for box seven or eight but it is still impossible to go past Dusty Moonshine (box three) in the NSW final of the National Distance Championship.
I can’t recall a stayer breaking the 42 second barrier at her first three Wentworth Park 720m starts but Dusty Moonshine, unbeaten over the state final trip at Wenty, has done just that.
Saturday’s safest bet looms as Queen Charlie, who should be first out and first home in the Download The Dogs App Today Stakes.
Queen Charlie overcame a severe first turn check to win at Wentworth Park last Friday night and with moderate beginners drawn around her she should lead clearly from her near perfect box draw.
Last week Queen Charlie, trained by Leo Vanderburg, gave her owners Scott Curran and Scott Rowe their first winner at Wenty.
But on the dazzling speed this bitch possesses she is going to give them several more city wins.
For Wentworth Park Saturday field, form and expert tips, click here.
Best Bet: Queen Charlie (Race 9)
Best Value: Cawbourne Cobra (Race 7)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 4, 6, 8
Race 6 – 3, 1
Race 7 – 4, 2, 1
Race 8 – 3, 1
$20 for 55.55%
