Jason MACKAY is confident his 2014 Ladies Bracelet winner ZIPPING Willow will land the first Group race of 2015 by leading throughout in tonight’s Group 2 Woy Woy Poultry Supplies Gosford Gold Cup.
ZIPPING Willow, who goes into the $40,000-to-the-winner race boasting a remarkable strike rate of 34 wins from 51 starts, has drawn the rails and is undefeated in eight appearances wearing the red rug.
She won her heat last week in 29.48, .12 slower than fastest qualifier, the Kristy Sultana-trained Are Jip.
Her trainer MACKAY rates Are Jip as ZIPPING Willow’s main danger, but believes box five makes his task formidable.
“Are Jip is awkwardly boxed because he has to contend with two front-runners, Magic Display and Jewel Action, drawn in boxes six and seven,’’ MACKAY said. “I’m certainly glad ZIPPING Willow isn’t in box five.
“I was happy with my bitch’s run last week because she didn’t jump too well from box four and then got ankle-tapped in the early stages.
“She pulled up beautifully so she has a lot going for her.’’
Another trainer delighted with his greyhound’s draw is Dean Swain, whose 2014 National Futurity winner Rue De Kahn (pictured, pink rug) has box two.
“When my son Jesse went over to choose a box I told him to get box two, not box one,’’ Swain said.
“At Gosford the boxes are away from the inside running rail and dogs can find trouble from box one.
“Box two is absolutely perfect and Rue De Kahn knows the Gosford track backwards.
“She was broken in and educated there and gives me a terrific chance of winning this race with my fourth finalist.
“I’ve been in three Gosford Cup finals with Unopposed, Just Osti and Miss Keys, but haven’t managed to jag one.’’
Best outsider is the Queensland-trained Farmer’s Gold, box three, who came from last at box rise to win his heat in 29.53.
“When I trialled him at Gosford he clocked 29.70sec so I was pleased to see him improve on those figures in his heat win,’’ trainer Darren Russell said.
“It was a big run to come from last in his heat but that is Farmer’s Gold’s problem, he is a slow beginner so often has to come from the back of the field.
“I took him to Gosford because I thought that track would suit a dog like Farmer’s Gold.
“At Gosford they build up a bit of speed up front and often come together in the early stages which allows slow beginners like Farmer’s Gold to find a run.’’
National Sprint Championship winner Chica Destacada, who found trouble from box five and finished fourth in her Cup heat, is ideally positioned to collect a $7500 consolation prize for trainer Doreen Drynan in Friday night’s Ruth & Laurie Refalo Cup Consolation.
Chica Destacada, who clocked 29.46 in a first-up Gosford win in February, is perfectly drawn in box eight.
Topper Road (box seven) usually drives towards the rails in the run to the first turn so should give Chica Destacada a dream run down the outside of the track.
The wonderfully consistent Queen Esther, who made the pace before finishing third in Farmer’s Gold’s Cup heat, could be the pacemaker from box two and looks Chica Destacada’s toughest opponent.
My value bet at Gosford is Doozy, who came from last to finish second over 520m at Wentworth Park on Monday night so should relish the additional 80m of Friday night’s opening event.
For Gosford Friday fields, forms and expert tips, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Friday Gosford tips:
Best Bet: ZIPPING Willow (Race 8)
Best Value: Doozy (Race 1)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 2, 5, 8
Race 6 – 8, 2, 6
Race 7 – 2, 3, 7
Race 8 – 1, 2
$20 for 37.03%
