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Anything Less and Frattini fared best in the box draw for next Saturday night’s Group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic final while fastest qualifier Xtreme Knocka’s chances nosedived when he came up with box eight.
Owner Amanda Stollery, whose grandmother Enid Stollery trained the 1982 Vic Peters Classic winner KING SEAGULL, could not conceal her joy when she drew box one for her greyhound Frattini.
And trainer John Finn was happy enough with Anything Less’ box three, a draw which will ensure the Magic Maiden winner starts favourite in Saturday night’s final.
Xtreme Knocka (pictured) posted fastest time of the three Wentworth Park semi-finals when he led throughout in 29.56 but trainer Jason Fletcher was shattered when his dog drew box eight for next Saturday night’s $75,000 to the winner run-off.
Fletcher summed up his feelings as the draw was announced when he quipped: “Do you get any prizemoney for turning up?’’
And while Xtreme Knocka finally “put it all together’’ with his all-the-way semi-final win, Fletcher revealed the dog is about to return to his former trainer, Melbourne’s Jason Thompson.
“He is booked on a plane for the big races in Melbourne on Monday, November 3, two days after the Classic final,’’ Fletcher said.
The Classic draw, in box order, is Frattini, La Grande Logie, Anything Less, All Strung Out, Lucy Lobster, Jewel Action, Cosmic Angel and Xtreme Knocka, with Lady Livingston and Are Jip the reserves.
While Anything Less has won five of his seven starts from boxes five, six, seven and eight, trainer John Finn wanted an inside draw for the final and he got it.
“I was hoping for box one or two but box three is fine, Anything Less should get a good run from there,’’ he commented.
Finn trains Anything Less for Melbourne owner-breeder Glenn Rounds who trains that dog’s litter brother All Strung Out.
Trainer Charlie Lamb wanted box one or two for his “lid pinger’’ Lucy Lobster but despite drawing box five she is the “Wild card’’ in the final.
With a 5.36 performance, Lucy Lobster recorded far and away the quickest first split of the semi-final winners.
After the draw Hays Bailey, head of the syndicate which owns Lucy Lobster said: “I’m sure Lucy is going to hit the front at some stage of the race so we are in for a thrilling ride!’’
Ron Oldfield, deputising for his wife Christine, trainer of Frattini, was confounded as to why their greyhound dwelt at the start from box one and just failed to catch Lucy Lobster in her semi.
“I don’t know why box one didn’t drag her out a bit quicker tonight,’’ Oldfield lamented after Saturday’s race.
Rank outsider in Saturday’s group one final will be La Grande Logie, who chased home Lucy Lobster and Frattini in a semi-final.
But while La Grande Logie will be at “Cricket score’’ odds next Saturday, no trainer of a finalist is more thrilled than his trainer Carole Eaton.
Carole has held a trainer’s licence for just two years and La Grande Logie is the first greyhound she has nominated for a Group 1 event.
Box draw for this Saturday's Group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic Final: 1. Frattini; 2. La Grand Logie; 3. Anything Less; 4. All Strung Out; 5. Lucy Lobster; 6. Jewel Action; 7.Cosmic Angel; 8. Xtreme Knocka. Reserves: Lady Livingston, Are Jip.
Luckiest winner on Saturday night at Wentworth Park was Shady Rhino in the opening event, with the bitch coming from fourth on the home turn to win in a pedestrian 30.57.
Shady Rhino secured a “miracle’’ run when the leaders came together, prompting trainer Dave Duncan to remark: “During the race I thought she was going to finish sixth!’
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Duncan admitted Shady Rhino had received a hefty helping of luck and when asked if he still intended to bank the $4350 first prizemoney, he quipped: “I might find a worthwhile charity to give it to.’’
Dave Duncan, a panelbeater from Manildra, between Parkes and ORANGE, names his greyhounds after the local rugby league team, the Rhinos, for whom he played when he moved to the town in 1973.
He had a satisfying night at Wentworth Park as Barney’s Rhino, another of his team, indicated his first city win is close at hand with an impressive all-the-way win from Wentworth Park winners Paddy’s Devil and My Boy Mitch in a stewards’ trial.
Barney’s Rhino ran the 520m in a tidy 30.15 and a delighted Duncan said: “The only time he had seen Wenty before was in a post-to-post hand-slip.
"If he improve a little on his first split of 5.50 he has a bit of a future."
See you next week!
