Ritza Hattie is ready to burst back into Golden Easter Egg calculations by taking out Saturday night’s Wentworth-park">Wentworth">Wentworth Park Free-For-All (520m).
The exciting chaser (pictured, green rug) will attempt to secure her eighth Wentworth-park">Wentworth">Wentworth Park win from box two in the night's third race.
Trainer Mark Gatt is advising racegoers to forget the greyhound’s unplaced effort in last Saturday night’s Australian Cup heats at The Meadows and back her here.
“We left home at 8am Saturday so Ritza Hattie was in the trailer all day, and then because she didn’t race until 10.30pm she was in the kennels all night,’’ Gatt said.
“On top of that there was an horrendous storm in Melbourne and for Ritza Hattie, who doesn’t like the rain at the best of times, that was a big setback.
“Hopefully she will bounce back this week because she has a good draw.
“Lemon Tree Girl, who has box three, generally moves up the track and usually clocks 5.35 or 5.40 to the first mark. She might give Ritza Hattie room to move while making it difficult for Topper Road, who looks our main danger in box five, to get across.’’
Exhibitionist pulled up superbly after her impressive all-the-way win at Lismore on Tuesday night and trainer Darryl Chapman is delighted with her box seven draw in Saturday night’s first Golden Easter Egg Prelude at Wentworth-park">Wentworth">Wentworth Park.
“I needed to give her a hit-out at Lismore on Tuesday to top her off for Saturday night and she came through beautifully,’’ Chapman said.
“She had to work hard going through the catching pen in order to retain the lead and although she was getting challenged coming to the home turn she kicked away near the finish line.
“I’m pleased she has box seven because she can be a bit gun shy when other greyhounds crowd around on her outside. That is because she has had three falls in her career so she has been most unlucky.
“She likes it out wide so I’m hoping on Saturday she will prove she is up to Golden Easter Egg class.’’
Chapman’s stayer Tuavasa Shek will chase his fourth successive Wentworth-park">Wentworth">Wentworth Park win in the 720m ladbrokes.com.au Stakes.
Tuavasa Shek has won his three 720m races at the Glebe track from boxes seven and six and while he is very fit Chapman said he would have preferred an outside draw with his consistent stayer.
Fantastic Spiral, who has been plagued by injuries in 2015, finally returns to the track in Saturday night’s first heat of the Rapidvite 2-5 Wins Series.
The greyhound has scored five wins and four seconds in a widely interrupted career spanning just 11 starts but is undefeated in two starts wearing the green rug.
Jason Fletcher's chaser will start from box six on Saturday.
The Peter Spiteri-owned, JODIE Lord-trained litter brothers Jack Kade (box one), Let It Develop (three) and Pierro Kade (seven) are expected to duel for the all important first turn lead in Saturday night’s Ladbrokes Sprint Series final at Wentworth-park">Wentworth">Wentworth Park.
There is virtually nothing between the trio on times but Pierro Kade, who likes to use a bit of the track, is well boxed and has the best Wentworth Park record.
He has scored four wins and six placings from 16 outings at the city track and should only need a clean getaway to lead around the first corner and win Saturday night’s race.
A horror box five draw means favourite Whittaker, who lacks early speed, will need a generous share of luck to stay in touch with the Lord speedsters.
For Wentworth-park">Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks,click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth-park">Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Fantastic Spiral (Race 1)
Best Value: Oban (Race 10)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 7, 2
Race 6 – 7, 3, 5
Race 7 – 6, 3, 4
Race 8 – 2, 5, 3
$20 for 37.03%
