Jeff Britton, who had his most successful year in 2014, is aiming to begin 2015 with a bang by bringing seven smart chasers to Wentworth Park for Friday night’s heats of the Group 1 National Futurity.
The Britton kennel will be represented by Mepunga Treasure ($7 with Sportsbet) in heat one, Weblec Belle ($3.20) in heat two, his partner Angela Langton’s Eyes Adorable ($9) along with Cosmic Owl ($2.60) in heat three, Diva’s Shadow ($6) in heat four, Oakvale Destiny ($6) in heat five and by Oakvale Flyer ($6) in heat six.
Britton rates Weblec Belle one of his best chances.
“She is among the fastest greyhounds in my kennel and while she is only an average beginner, she rails well and gets to the line strongly," he said.
“Mepunga Treasure gets wide so from box two she is going to give the red, Broadway Miss, a nice run.
“Cosmic Owl is in good form but has drawn the wrong side of the track while Eyes Adorable, who is in the same race, has very good early pace and may be able to hang on and win.
“Diva’s Shadow is a similar bitch to Cosmic Owl. She has pace but is not good in a field.
“Oakvale Destiny is the only one of my greyhounds which has seen Wentworth Park so that is a plus.
“She usually drops out early and then makes a strong run so her chances depend on what sort of passage she gets through the field.
“Oakvale Flyer is as quick as Oakvale Destiny and she has a chance but like her sister, she needs to secure a clear run in the middle stages.’’
Dyna Nico, (pictured) who made the pace when second in Whittaker’s heat of the Paws Of Thunder before leading throughout in last week’s The Collerson, has the early zip to lead all the way despite drawing box six in heat one, where she is currently priced at $4.50 with Sportsbet.
Best value bet in the Futurity heats could be Tasmania’s Demi Cali, who has box six in heat four.
Trained by the Apple Isle’s number one trainer Ted Medhurst, Demi Cali has won seven of 12 Tasmanian starts.
“She is nicely drawn out wide in box six,’’ Medhurst said.
“And I trialled her at Wentworth Park after the final race last Saturday and she clocked around 30 seconds flat which was a pleasing effort.’’
Best of the locals should be the Steve White-trained Foxy">Foxy Nakita ($2.40), who has box one in heat five.
After posting sizzling splits and clocking 29.72 to win at her Wentworth Park debut from box one on January 9, Foxy Nakita was never out of trouble when fourth from box seven there last Friday night.
The all-conquering Andrea Dailly kennels from Victoria look set to take out heat six with Spring Leaf ($2.90), who is owned by NSW resident Greg Board.
Spring Leaf ran down My Boy Snoop, who pulled up injured, in a heat of the Paws Of Thunder at Wentworth Park on January 10 before finishing sixth in Dyna Villa’s final.
But the Dailly camp has such a high opinion of Spring Leaf they rated her the pick of their three Paws Of Thunder finalists.
And on Friday night she will be taking on bitches only and youngsters her own age, a far cry from competing against all comers as she was in the Paws Of Thunder series.
For Wentworth Park friday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Friday tips:
Best Bet: Spring Leaf (Race 6) $2.90
Best Value: Demi Cali (Race 4) $6
Quaddie: Race 5 – 1, 7, 3, 5
Race 6 – 2, 5, 7
Race 7 - 7, 2
Race 8 – 3, 6
$20 for 41.66%
All prices listed as at 10am Friday
