Father Skeeta has not started since running his rivals off their legs at Wentworth Park a fortnight ago but trainer Les Dennis says there was nothing amiss as his speedster prepares for Saturday night’s Mitchell Koureas BP Stakes (520m) at the Glebe track.
“I only race him every two weeks,’’ Dennis said.
“Between starts I only give him a post-to-post at Richmond and I’ve found that by not trialling him out of the boxes he begins better on race night.
“He is as fit as a fiddle and box two looks terrific.
“I reckon my dog and Here’s Skeeta could be head and head at the first turn but with the inside running I expect my bloke to be well in front on the back straight.’’
Highlight of Saturday night’s Wentworth Park card is the return of Australia’s most exciting long-distance prospect Space Star.
The dog, who broke the Richmond 618m record at his first start and has since added the Gosford 600m time standard to his tally, has box one in the Schweppes Distance Challenge (720m).
Space Star was a $1.04 chance at his 720m debut in last week’s Challenge heat which he won by a dozen lengths in 41.84, sensational figures for a young rookie stayer.
The dog is raced by Camilla Limon, whose brother Michael Ivers bred Space Star from his bitch Tonto Tears.
While many keen judges were surprised Space Star was not nominated for the recent National Distance Championship series, Michael Ivers says he and trainer Dawn Garrett have “no regrets’’ about keeping their potential superstar out of the Perth event.
“Space Star was too green to be going in a race like that and Dawn doesn’t believe in rushing young dogs,’’ Ivers said.
Best Bet: Lucy Lips (Race 4)
Best Value: Coolabah Jet (Race 3)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 2, 4, 7
Race 6 – 5, 8, 1
Race 7 – 1, 5, 6
Race 8 – 1
$20 for 74.07%
