Winsome Prince is set to attempt a rare Paws Of Thunder and National Derby double after capturing his 12th race in 13 appearances at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Despite spearing off the track on the first turn, Winsome Prince (pictured) was always in control in one of the hottest fifth grades seen in years, leading throughout for a runaway win in a best of the night 29.72.
"Because the Paws Of Thunder is only a two weeks series, just heats and a final, it makes it viable to be able to contest that race before the three week National Derby series," Winsome Prince’s owner-trainer Minnie Finn said after the race.
"At this stage Winsome Prince will be running in both races."
The Group 1 Ladbrokes Paws Of Thunder will be held on January 10 and 17 while the Group 1 National Derby is staged on January 24, 31 and February 7.
Meanwhile, Rivergum Drive, who had no luck before finishing down the course in Winsome Prince’s race on Saturday, will target the National Derby only.
Rivergum Drive had made a stunning Wentworth Park debut to lead all the way in 29.72 on December 19 but lost all chance at box rise on Saturday night.
Fast beginning Jack Kade, in box three, veered right at the start and crunched Rivergum Drive (box four) who was then badly hampered when attempting to find the rails at the first turn.
"I’ll be concentrating on the Derby only with him, that has always been my aim," Rivergum Drive’s trainer Wayne Atwill said on Saturday night.
Queensland’s Tee Brady earned a tilt at the Paws Of Thunder heats by scoring his 16th win in Saturday night’s Ladbrokes Paws Of Thunder Prelude.
Trained by Tom Tzouvelis, Tee Brady has taken a liking to Wentworth Park and Saturday’s all-the-way win took his tally at the track to two wins and five placings from nine starts.
After the race Tzouvelis admitted he had been apprehensive about Tee Brady’s chances before the race.
"The dog went like a rocket at Lismore on Tuesday, breaking the 24 second barrier for the 420m for the first time," Tzouvelis said.
"But the short turn around to race again at Wenty four nights later and then having to be flown to Sydney on the day of the race gave me some concern.
"So I was thrilled with how well he went."
Trainer Simon Ma was not surprised by the early zip displayed by middle distance specialist Funny Bone in her win in Saturday night’s Petsnacks Stakes at Wentworth Park.
Coming off a win and two seconds over 600m at Gosford and 630m at Nowra, Funny Bone made full use of box one to be third to the back straight and second approaching the home turn before hitting the front at the top of the straight.
"Funny Bone has pace but can only show it when she is left alone for the first ten or twenty metres," Ma said on Saturday.
"She only needs to get balanced and she can stay in touch with the sprinters.
"Early in her career she trialled 22.72 over 400m at Gosford and at her most recent Wentworth Park trial she clocked splits of 5.43, 13.89 and 17.8 and dogs can’t do that if they have no early dash."
Fantastic Sid, who landed his eighth win in 14 starts on Saturday night will tackle the National Derby heats on January 24.
And trainer Dean Swain announced that Eleazar, winner of Saturday night’s sole 720m event, would target the Group 2 Summer Distance Plate at Wentworth Park on January 10.
See you next week!
