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Frattini">Frattini has not won a race at Wentworth Park but is boxed to open her city account in the third semi-final of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic on Saturday night.
The Christine Oldfield-trained greyhound, who won eight of 12 starts before a great second to Anything Less in her Heat of the Vic Peters, has a perfect draw.
Frattini has box one and with wide runners Lucy Lobster, La Grand Logie and Crowie’s Chance drawn in two, three and four respectively, is poised to get a clear run to the crucial first turn.
Christine Oldfield trained the 2011 Vic Peters Classic final winner Spring Gun but her husband Ron, deputising while his wife holidays in the USA, is reluctant to compare the two greyhounds.
“They are totally different types,’’ Oldfield said.
“Spring Gun used to fly for the first few sections and then settle into a gear which enabled him to win seven races from seven Wentworth Park starts.
“Frattini doesn’t have Spring Gun’s early dash but if she can find herself in a reasonable position at the first turn she should be hard to beat because she is very strong.’’
Before last week’s Heats Frattini had just one look at Wentworth Park, trialling a brilliant 29.60.
Lady Ronray tasted defeat for only the second time in a dozen races when a tiring third in her Vic Peters Classic Heat but is capable of being first out and first home in Saturday night’s second semi-final.
“She is jumping out of her skin and box seven won’t worry her because she handles any box,’’ trainer Ray Steele said.
“I think whoever pings the lids and leads and runs 29.80 will win this race.
“It seems to be the weakest of the three Heats and while Lady Ronray ran 5.39 to the first mark in her Heat she is capable of going faster.
“In an earlier trial at Wentworth Park she clocked 5.32for the first split so I’m hoping she can reproduce those figures on Saturday night.’’
Heat one is widely regarded as a match between Shoulders (box one) and Anything Less (pictured, yellow rug) in box five but I’m tipping All Strung Out to spring a surprise.
He is well drawn in box two and the litter brother to Anything Less, who is also owned by Glenn Rounds, should strip fitter after “dying’’ on his run when third in Shoulders’ Heat.
Mr Corsair rattled home when second to Ruff Cut Diamond in a Sydney Cup Heat on October 4 and only needs to repeat that run to win Saturday night’s Ladbrokes Stayers Stakes (720m) at Wentworth Park
He faces much weaker opposition this week and trainer Michelle Shambler said yesterday the dog was fit and well.
“I’m not sure about box eight because I think Mr Corsair begins better from an inside draw but he is super strong and could run a marathon,’’ she said.
“I gave him a few days off after the Sydney Cup final on October 11 but he is ready to go.’’
Best Bet: Frattini (Race 6)
Best Value: Mr Corsair (Race 7)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 7, 2, 8
Race 6 – 1, 8
Race 7 – 8, 6
Race 8 – 4, 3, 6
$20 for 55.55%
