Rum Punch finished down the course at Wentworth Park last Friday night but a slick post-to-post trial at Richmond on Tuesday has the dog cherry ripe for Friday night’s Welcome To Wentworth Park Stakes.
Last week Rum Punch was never in the hunt After a slow start from box six but he is set to atone After drawing his pet box, number one, on Friday night.
“He only ever seems to begin cleanly from boxes one or two,’’ trainer John Callaughan said.
“Rum Punch has won each of his two races from box one and on Tuesday I slipped him at Richmond and he went really well.’’
John, who recently steered Watto Lotto to another win at the dog’s 100th start, also has Black Kaspa in with a chance in the petsnacks.com.au Stakes.
“Black Kaspa is a terrible beginner but is racing well and is improving all the time,’’ John said.
Black Kaspa has box four but his prospects revolve around whether he gets a clear run along the rails.
His main danger is Breeze Magic who led and was run down by Are Jip at Wentworth Park last Friday night.
After being third early, Breeze Magic grabbed the lead at the first corner and was still in front turning for home.
He is ideally positioned in box one on Friday because ZIPPING Molly, box two, likes to use a bit of the track, especially at the first bend.
Apart from Rum Punch, Friday night’s other safe bet should be Magic Display, who has box one in the Macro Meats Gourmet Game Stakes.
Magic Display has won six of her eight starts from the rails trap and despite being trained at Grafton, has made the Glebe track her favourite course.
The Evelyn Harris-trained bitch has scored six wins and four placings from 14 Wentworth Park starts and was back to her best with an outstanding third to ZIPPING-willow">ZIPPING Willow and Cawbourne Whip there last Friday night.
Magic Display led to the back straight where she was collared by ZIPPING-willow">ZIPPING Willow, but hung on gamely to finish third behind two of the strongest finishers in training.
And Harris believes Magic Display will strip fitter on Friday night.
“She could have been a run short last week because she fell at Wenty on July 19 and we had not been able to get a run with her again until Friday," Harris said.
“My husband Lenny and I were especially pleased to see her begin so well last week.
“After she came back from racing in Melbourne she had not been jumping as fast as usual so it was great to see her jump away in her old style.’’
Trainer Anthony Azzopardi has a high opinion of ZIPPING-tank">ZIPPING-tank">ZIPPING Tank and the dog only needs a clear run to take holding off in the Schweppes Solo Stakes at Wentworth Park on Friday.
Last week ZIPPING-tank">ZIPPING Tank finished sixth at his Wentworth Park debut but that run should be ignored as he bungled the start before being skittled when showing good speed going through the catching pen.
Before last Friday’s race Azzopardi said he expected ZIPPING-tank">ZIPPING Tank’s kennelmate Cosmic Angel to win, but cautioned that ZIPPING-tank">ZIPPING Tank “Might run him down’’ if he sat behind him on the back straight.
The poor getaway and early interference ensured that did not happen and Cosmic Angel landed the money, but it could be ZIPPING-tank">ZIPPING Tank’s turn this week.
Best Bet: Rum Punch (Race 1)
Best Value: Breeze Magic (Race 4)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 5, 1, 4
Race 6 – 2, 3
Race 7 – 2, 1, 4
Race 8 – 1, 3
$20 for 55.55%
