Sandy Freckle has been desperately unlucky in two Wentworth Park starts but is set for a change of fortune after drawing box one in Friday night’s www.wentworthpark.com.au Stakes (520m).
“He is a desperate railer so that’s the box he wants,’’ trainer Cheryl Murray said.
“Sandy Freckle has won from box one at Maitland and has had boxes eight and seven in his two unplaced runs at Wentworth Park.
“At his latest start there last Friday he wanted to veer left when the boxes opened and one of the dogs inside him moved right so they collided heavily.
“If Sandy Freckle performs well on Friday night I plan to give him another trial at Wentworth Park and if he goes well I may nominate him for the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic heats there on October 18.
“Last March I was rushing to get him ready for the Magic Maiden heats and in a hand-slip from post-to-post he clocked 24.58 at Wentworth Park.
“That is nothing sensational but he was only half fit at the time and is a lot better dog now.’’
Sandy Freckle is regally bred as he is by 2010 Golden Easter Egg winner Cosmic Rumble from Cindeen Shelby, one of the sport’s greatest race bitches.
Dave Duncan, a panel-beater from Manildra, between ORANGE and Parkes, has bright prospects of landing a city winner with Shady Rhino in heat two of the Bohemia Crystal Sprint (520m).
Duncan, who trains greyhounds as a hobby, has had great success on the TAB circuit in recent years with his dogs carrying the 'Rhino' prefix or suffix.
“That came about because we moved to Manildra in 1973 and a year later I began playing in the forwards for the local rugby league team, the Manildra Rhinos,’’ Duncan said yesterday.
“Shady Rhino is usually better suited drawn wide but box one is okay because she will run straight to the first corner.1
“Her second to Rebel Away last Friday night at Wentworth Park was good because she got turned side-on at one stage.
“She ran 30.23 getting beaten but I think she is capable of clocking around 30 seconds flat given a clear run.
“Sydney is a nine to 10 hours round trip and I have a busy weekend ahead as I also have a dog in race nine at Richmond on Saturday night, the same event Shady Rhino is in at Wenty.’’
Knocka’s Return only finished sixth at Wentworth Park last Friday night but his run in Bessy Boo’s third and fourth grade event was full of merit.
At the first turn Knocka’s Return was a close second behind Zola Icon but was badly checked and did remarkably well to still be holding down second place on the back straight.
After being run off the track by a rival when leaving the back straight Knocka’s Return dropped out to finish sixth, but he drops back to fifth grade company in Friday night’s Find Us On Facebook Stakes (520m).
The dog is well drawn in box eight as he has won four of his seven starts wearing the pink rug.
“He likes it out there,’’ Wilcox said.
“Knocka’s Return doesn’t like getting cluttered up which is what can happen from middle boxes, especially at Wentworth Park.
“Box seven seems to be his lucky box but the eight is good too because it gives him that bit of room to move.’’
Ten races are on the card and action starts at 7.19pm.
For Wentworth Park Friday fields, form and expert tips, click here.
Best Bet: Sandy Freckle (Race 5)
Best Value: Knocka’s Return (Race 9)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 1, 2, 5
Race 6 – 5, 3
Race 7 – 3, 1
Race 8 – 7, 6, 5
$20 for 55.55%
