Chica Destacada will be aimed at the heats of the Group 2 Woy Woy Poultry Gosford Gold Cup on Boxing Day after the star sprinter won the Group 3 John Stollery Christmas Gift final at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
The Doreen Drynan-trained greyhound won the second group race of her career, taking advantage of box one to win in 29.62. The Gosford Gold Cup is the fourth leg of the Thank Dog It's Friday series.
Joining Chica Destacada (pictured) in the heats will be Zipping Willow, who tasted defeat at Wentworth Park for only the second time this year by finishing third in the Christmas Gift.
Zipping Willow lost no admirers with her run, however, as she bungled the start from her poor box six draw, collided at the first turn, and was checked on the back straight.
"I was proud of her, she just kept coming," trainer Jason MACKAY said.
Jumble, who ran the race of his life to chase home Chica Destacada on Saturday in second place, is also set to be a surprise Gosford Cup nomination.
Jumble’s trainer Craig Chappelow had a big night on Saturday with Evoked coming from fourth early to register her ninth win in 32 starts.
But Chappelow will now step Evoked up in distance and will target a 600m race at Dapto or a 618m event at Richmond.
"She was able to come from fourth early and then third on the back straight to win tonight’s fifth grade race but she can’t afford to do that in a fourth grade when they are going quicker up front," Chappelow said.
"Evoked had a 600m race at Dapto early in her career and was beaten a nose so she can run a middle distance."
Owner Terry Kingcott got a quick return from his recent $25,000 purchase of Zipping Tarn when that greyhound, now trained by Anthony Azzopardi , ran down Encosta Deplente in a fifth grade race.
"I have always wanted to secure a bitch from owner Marty Hallinan because he has been so successful as a breeder and when I heard he was prepared to sell Zipping Tarn I didn’t hesitate," Kingcott said.
"The plan obviously is to breed from her when she finishes racing so tonight’s win is a bonus."
Marty Hallinan meanwhile also had a winner on Saturday night as an owner with Zipping Oscar. Described as one of his “second stringers", Zipping Oscar scored an outstanding win in 29.88 in a fourth grade.
Zipping Oscar will join his kennelmate Zipping Willow in the heats of the Gosford Cup.
"This dog has now won eight from 11 and is improving all the time and while Gosford will be a step up in class he might as well learn against the best," MACKAY, who trains Zipping Oscar, said.
Trainer Peter Honnery’s wife Connie and owner David Brewster conceded they had not given their greyhound "much hope" before she won her fifth grade on Saturday in a personal best 29.83.
"We didn’t think she could win from box eight because she is such a desperate railer," Honnery said after the race.
"But when I saw her zoom into third place behind Mazzy Star and Shilling Flex on the back straight I knew then she only had to get between them unscathed and she would win."
See you next week!
