Dyna WILLOW became the first winner to break the 42 second barrier when she took out last year’s Group 3 Schweppes Summer Cup but given the quality of Saturday night’s field it will be a shock if her race record is not broken.
Dyna WILLOW became the third Victorian to win the Cup in five years when she clocked 41.92 for the 720m last year, eclipsing the previous best figures of 42.16 recorded by Tasmania’s Bell Haven in 2012.
But with Sweet It Is (pictured), having posted a near track record 41.55 in her Summer Cup heat win, and the Marty Hallinan-owned Victorian trained duo Zipping Rory and Zipping Maggie, having clocked 41.75 and 41.78 respectively at Wentworth Park, the race record is in jeopardy.
Sweet It Is surprised by being second at the first turn and leading down the back straight in her 13 length heat win from box one but while she has drawn two in the final trainer Darren McDonald prefers her boxed wide.
While undoubtedly the best stayer in Australia, Sweet It Is relished having only five rivals in her heat and faces a slightly tougher task in a full field of eight in the final.
But it would take a brave or foolish person to tip or back anything to beat the exciting stayer in Saturday’s race.
Queen Esther missed a run last week but she is cherry ripe for Saturday night’s third heat of the John Stollery Christmas Gift at Wentworth Park.
Queen Esther has not started since leading all the way to beat Ritza Hattie at Wentworth Park on November 21 and trainer Noelene Holloway was unable to secure a draw for her greyhound at last Friday’s city fixture.
“So instead I took her to Gosford on Friday to trial her over 515 metres and she clocked 29.61 which is very good,’’ Holloway said.
“I think Queen Esther has a really good draw in box three on Saturday night.’’
A tonsillectomy has given Chilli Sierra added stamina and the tiny front runner has the perfect draw in Saturday night’s Dan Mills’ Last Stand Stakes
Shortest priced favourite of the night is likely to be not Sweet It Is but WILLOW">WILLOW">Zipping WILLOW in heat two of the Christmas Gift.
WILLOW">Zipping WILLOW goes into the race after smashing the second and third split time records in her all the way Wentworth Park win last week.
And while she drew box eight last Saturday, she is better positioned on the rails this week.
WILLOW">Zipping WILLOW has not been defeated in seven starts while wearing the red rug.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Chilli Sierra (Race 2)
Best Value: My Awesome Opal (Race 9)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 3, 5, 7
Race 6 – 7, 2, 1
Race 7 – 1, 7, 3
Race 8 – 2, 7
$20 for 37.03%
