ZIPPING Willow registered her ninth win in nine Wentworth Park starts in 2014 in Saturday night’s Ladbrokes Stakes.
In the most exciting duel of the year, Jason Mackay’s bitch “came out running’’ to lead by six lengths in the middle stages, pursued by the favourite, Joh Finn’s Anything Less.
Racegoers knew then they were in for a thrilling finish but ZIPPING Willow hung on to withstand Anything Less’s late rush by a head in a sizzling 29.55 on a track which was not as quick as it has been in recent weeks.
To lead so easily, ZIPPING Willow had to “fly’’ early and she certainly did, posting dazzling splits of 5.29, 13.51 and 17.61.
A medical condition prevents eight-year-old Zac Shoesmith from participating in sport but the lad’s 25 per cent share in Saturday night’s Wentworth Park winner Marlow Man has given him a wonderful substitute recreation.
In a gesture typical of the generosity of greyhound folk, Marlow Man’s breeders Anne and Barry Foley made him a gift of a quarter share in their dog two years ago.
“Zac’s family are friends of ours and because he is a haemophiliac sport is not an option, " Marlow Man’s trainer Anne Foley said. "He has made greyhounds his sport."
“And because Marlow Man has now won six races, including two at Wentworth Park, Zac has saved enough from his share of the prizemoney to go on a cruise to NEW ZEALAND with his family,’’ Barry Foley added.
On Saturday night Marlow Man began reasonably well from box five in the Justin Dale Stakes but mustered speed rapidly to lead clearly around the first turn.
Although Von Ryan seemed likely to run him down approaching the home bend, Marlow Man “kicked’’ in the straight to win by two lengths.
Go Jetta Go will return to his former trainer Jason Thompson in Melbourne despite scoring his second win in four Wentworth Park 720m starts on Saturday night.
Go Jetta Go ran down Greta’s Rescue to win a heat of the Rapidvite Distance Series but “goes home’’ after this weekend’s final.
“He is booked on a plane to go back to Jason next Monday,’’ the dog’s Sydney caretaker trainer Jason Fletcher said on Saturday.
And while Go Jetta Go won impressively from box three on Saturday, Jason Fletcher is hoping for box eight in this week’s final.
“He loves to circle the field so I’m hoping he’ll have the pink rug on in the final,’’ Fletcher said.
Paddy’s Devil scored his sixth Wentworth Park win in 17 appearances in Saturday night’s Macro Meats Gourmet Game Stakes after securing a start from box seven.
Unluckiest runners on Saturday night were Ella Has Class and Stilton Blue.
Trainer Dean Swain must be wondering when his luck is going to change after Ella Has Class again struck trouble from a wide draw.
Ella Has Class had box seven in the AAA Radiator Specialists Stakes but after being a neck in front at the first turn and set to win, she was flattened when Hollie Anne went amiss and speared off the track.
Hollie Anne and Ella Has Class almost fell in the mishap while Hollie Anne’s trainer Phil Goodsell had the misfortune to see his other runner on Saturday night, Stilton Blue. flattened at the first corner.
Stilton Blue was chasing the wide running pacemaker Our Lady Di in the Schweppes Stakes but lost all chance when that greyhound veered to the outside.
Stilton Blue did remarkably well to finish third and is close to another Wenty win.
See you next week!
