-2002.JPG)
Trainer Maureen 'Billie' Sharman believes the shift from box five to the rails draw gives her dog Just Run It a great chance of breaking through for his first city win at Wentworth Park on Friday night.
The aptly-named Just Run It, owned by a syndicate of rugby union players, will carry the red rug in the wentworthpark.com.au Stakes.
At his Wentworth Park debut last Friday night Just Run It was fifth away from box five and after moving into second place on the back straight finished runner-up, beaten four lengths in a nippy 30.09.
“Just Run It is not a good box dog so the rails draw should give him a much better chance,’’ Sharman said.
“The only time he had seen Wentworth Park before his race there was when my husband Eric gave him a post-to-post hand-slip and he said the dog ran the equivalent of 30 seconds flat.
“Unfortunately Just Run It tends to pull up slightly distressed after a hard run due to a kidney problem so his racing has to be spaced a week apart.’’
Francine is no world-beater but according to Ken Barnden, whose father Robert trains the greyhound, she is “a good safe beginner and a really hard chaser.’’
The sprinter goes into Friday night’s second heat of the Ladbrokes Bitches Only Series with 10 wins from 20 starts on provincial tracks.
At her Wentworth Park debut last Friday, the chaser chased noted front-runner Joe Hanley all-the-way and finished second, beaten two lengths in a moderate 30.49.
But connections are hopeful the experience will do Francine the world of good.
“She had never seen Wentworth Park before last Friday night,’’ Ken Barnden said.
“We were a bit disappointed with her early sectional times because whenever she races at Gosford she runs 4.40 or better for the first split.
“And if a dog runs 4.40 at Gosford they are going good.
“Francine is not the quickest greyhound in our kennels but is a good race bitch.
“When we trial her against our Wentworth Park winners Alan’s Kidz and Big Tee Sal they always beat her, but Francine keeps winning races.’’
My best bets on Friday night are the Jason Mackay-trained Frost Yourself in heat four of the Ladbrokes and Anthony Azzopardi’s Cosmic Angel in the AAA Radiator Specialists Stakes.
Former Queenslander Frost Yourself, who is raced by Punch One Out’s owner Grant Fennelly, made an impressive debut at Wentworth Park last Saturday night when she came from fourth at the first turn and second at the top of the straight to win easily.
Her time was a respectable 30.14 and her opposition on Friday night is no stronger.
Cosmic Angel will be better value and is ideally drawn in box eight.
He has won two of his five starts carrying the pink rug and providing he begins on terms with his rivals he should win.
Barcelona Star (box seven) wants to move left in the run to the first turn so Cosmic Angel, who has won at Wentworth Park in a blistering 29.62, is poised to get the run of the race.
For Wentworth Park Friday fields and form, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Friday tips:
Best Bet: Frost Yourself (Race 6)
Best Value: Cosmic Angel (Race 7)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 4, 7, 5
Race 6 – 2, 4
Race 7 – 8, 4, 3
Race 8 -1, 3, 6
$20 for 37.03%
