Winsome Prince makes his keenly anticipated Wentworth Park debut on Friday night after posting blistering times in two post-to-post hand-slips at the track.
Minnie and John Finn’s flying machine will be out to take his tally to nine wins from nine starts in the Macro Meats Maitland To City Final (520m).
Winsome Prince has drawn box one which will ensure he is at close to unbackable odds.
“I would probably have preferred to see him drawn wide but he should be okay,’’ owner-trainer Minnie Finn said.
“He has had two hand-slips at Wentworth Park and John and I have never had a greyhound go so fast at the track.’’
That is massive praise considering the Finns won the 1992 Golden Easter Egg with the great Jessica Casey, the 2003 Paws Of Thunder with Winsome Shot, the 2001 Peter Mosman Classic with Winsome Dollars and the 2004 NSW Greyhound of the Year award with Irinka Barbie.
“Winsome Prince has not been out of the starting boxes at Wentworth Park but he goes like a rocket at Dapto and if he can get around that course he should have no trouble handling the boxes at Wenty,’’ Finn said.
Ritza Hattie (pictured, green rug) is likely to be set for the Group 2 Woy Woy Poultry Gold Cup heats at Gosford on Boxing Day after she contests Friday night’s Ladbrokes Stakes (520m) at Wentworth Park.
The sprinter returns to Sydney in box eight after finishing third to Awesome Project in a Melbourne Cup heat at Sandown on November 13.
“I was rapt in her run at Sandown,’’ trainer Mark Gatt said. “She had box five and you need to draw inside at Sandown when you are up against the top dogs in Australia.
“I would have preferred Ritza Hattie drawn near the rails on Friday night but box eight is the next best option.
“She will probably duck in at the start but then straighten up and she has won two of her five starts from box eight.
“The Gold Cup at Gosford looks a nice race for her so after Friday at Wenty I’ll give her a trial or two at Gosford to get her ready for the heats.’’
Best value bet on Friday night at Wentworth Park is the Troy Halligan-trained Lorella Fire, who has box three in the Bohemia Crystal Stakes (520m).
She was checked when prominent early from box three and finished fifth at Wentworth Park on October 27 before missing the start and finding trouble from box eight when fifth there on November 14.
“Lorella Fire has ability and trialled nicely at Wentworth Park before she raced there,’’ Halligan said.
Fay The Weapon has improved gradually in recent weeks and the Neville Brown-trained bitch should lead throughout in the Rapidvite Dapto To Wenty Final (520m).
With three wins and two seconds from her past five starts there is not a more consistent front-runner in Friday’s final and from box two Fay The Weapon looks positioned to jump in front and lead at the crucial first turn.
For Wentworth Park Friday fields, form and expert tips, click here.
Best Bet: Ritza Hattie (Race 6)
Best Value: Lorella Fire (Race 7)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 8, 3, 5
Race 6 – 8, 2, 1
Race 7 – 3, 7
Race 8 – 1, 6
$20 for 55.55%
