Last week's Group 1 National Futurity winner Zipping Midge and promising Country Fox both look strong contenders at Wentworth Park on Friday.
Country Fox has not raced this month but there has been nothing amiss with the promising sprinter and he is set to score his third win in 10 starts in Friday night’s gapnsw.com.au Stakes at Wentworth Park.
“I decided to give him a fortnight off after his fifth behind Fernando Bale in a National Derby semi-final,’’ trainer Neil Staines said. “But I have been working him along at home and he is fit and ready to win.’’
Country Fox tackles fifth grade opposition on Friday night, a far cry from the rivals he faced at his two latest starts, which included a second placing behind final winner Fernando Bale in a National Derby heat at Wentworth Park.
Although Country Fox rails well Staines considers him well drawn in box eight on Friday.
“I like him drawn out there, he handles the outside alley really well,’’ the trainer said.
Friday’s best value bet should be Kasinda">Kasinda, who has box six in the Macro Meats Gourmet Game Stakes.
Although she has won only once in 15 starts at the Glebe track, Kasinda has been most consistent and has filled seven minor placings at the track.
She relishes an outside draw and her abundant early speed should ensure she has no trouble being the pacemaker in Friday night’s race.
“Kasinda is only a 30.30 bitch at Wentworth Park but she is honest and speedy," trainer Owen Langley said.
“Having a vacant box on her inside will help and if she can lead she has a good chance of winning.’’
Zipping Midge, who set a new race record for the Wentworth Park National Futurity last Saturday night, has bypassed Monday’s Ladbrokes Bathurst Gold Cup heats in favour of Friday night’s petsnacks.com.au Stakes at Wenty.
When she scored a surprise all-the-way win in the Futurity, Zipping Midge stopped the clock at 29.80, which sliced .07 off the Wentworth Park race record set by Queensland’s Lissiloo in 2003.
The Futurity was held at The Gardens from 2009 until 2014 inclusive.
Zipping Midge is one of two runners for trainer Jason MACKAY in Friday night’s race, but Zipping Midge (pictured, white rug) is his stand-out representative.
Zipping Carter">Carter, who finished fourth to Fernando Bale in the National Derby final last week, is all class but is badly positioned in box seven.
MACKAY has said Zipping Carter will shortly move up to the staying ranks.
A good outsider here is the DEAN Swain-trained Prodigy in the Gosford to City Final.
Prodigy is endowed with plenty of early pace and that trait should enable him to overcome box five and lead throughout.
For Wentworth Park Friday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Friday picks:
Best Bet: Country Fox (Race 9)
Best Value: Kasinda (Race 4)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 4, 2, 5
Race 6 – 5, 1, 8
Race 7 – 3, 2
Race 8 – 5, 3, 7
$20 for 37.03%
