-2002.JPG)
The much-anticipated first Wentworth Park appearances of Minnie Finn’s outstanding litter brothers Winsome Jacko and Winsome Mission make Friday night’s meeting a super prelude to Saturday night’s Schweppes Summer Cup and John Stollery Christmas Gift card.
Each of Finn’s greyhounds have drawn box one, with Winsome Jacko carrying the red rug in the Steve Knight Farewell Stakes and his brother wearing the scarlet livery in the Bohemia Crystal Stakes.
And while Finn’s dashing duo have only raced on big tracks Maitland and Bulli, they have trialled well at Wentworth Park.
“They have each had a post-to-post hand-slip and a trial from the 520 metre boxes and they both went extremely well,’’ Finn said. “I would probably prefer seeing Winsome Jacko in box eight but if I couldn’t get the extreme outside with him I think box one is next best.
“Winsome Mission is well drawn on the fence.’’
Another greyhound perfectly positioned in box one is the DEAN Swain-trained Ella Has Class in the Greg Purse Happy 50th Birthday Stakes.
Swain has been experiencing a horror run with box draws so is over the moon to see Ella Has Class on the fence.
“Before she won her heat of the Country Motor Company Puppy Classic at Dapto on November 20 in 29.91 she had trialld there in 29.65,’’ Swain said.
“That was on November 14 and nothing else broke 30 seconds that day.
“Ella Has Class had no luck in her Puppy Classic semi-final from box four when she bungled the start, something she does not normally do.
“Then she was checked in the run to the first turn but still looked set to run second and qualify for the final when she hit the running rail on the back straight.
“She was pretty sore after that but I got her a precautionary X-ray and she was given the all clear to race again so I expect her to win.’’
Swain is also upbeat about the prospects of Wentworth Park rookie Barcelona Star in the Corporate Sign Solutions Cup.
“She also wants an inside box and has drawn box six but she has good early pace and if she begins smartly she might be able to clear her rivals in the run to the first turn,’’ Swain said.
“Barcelona Star was unable to do that from box seven at Dapto at her latest start but there is a short run to the first turn at that track and greyhounds have a better hope of getting across at Wentworth Park.
“While Barcelona Star has not raced at Wentworth Park she knows the place well and has had three trials there, clocking a brilliant 24.20 in a post-to-post hand-slip in one of her hit-outs.’’
Best value bet at Wentworth Park on Friday is Dragon Emgrand, who has box four in the Ladbrokes.com.au Stakes.
He defeated a similar fourth and fifth grade lineup at Wentworth Park on November 15 and is not badly drawn on Friday, with slow beginner Mr Uno in box three and wide runner Pablo Cruz in five set to give him a clear run to the first corner.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Friday predictions:
Best Bet: Ella Has Class (Race 4)
Best Value: Dragon Emgrand (Race 6)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 5, 1, 3
Race 6 – 4, 1, 5
Race 7 - 1, 4
Race 8 -2, 7, 3
$20 for 37.03%
