Brooke Ennis took out last year’s Golden Easter Egg with Tonk and on Saturday night the crack Victorian trainer launches her 2015 Egg campaign with Margins">Margins and Repayments in the G. C. Fisher Cup at Wentworth Park.
Margins, a winner of seven from 16 starts, has box two in the fourth grade event while Repayments, chasing his eighth win in just 11 appearances, has box four.
Neither chaser has visited Wentworth Park before but both could be strong contenders for the forthcoming Easter Egg series.
Brooke’s husband Jamie believes Repayments is the one to back.
“Margins has the most natural ability but Repayments is the better race dog,” Jamie Ennis said.
“Margins is well boxed because he has no early speed and will drop onto the fence going to the first turn.
“If the dog in box one gives him some room he has a great chance.
“But Repayments will hunt up well from any box.
“We didn’t consider entering them for the New Sensation even though age wise they are eligible. The Easter Egg was always our goal with these dogs.’’
The Ennis family’s outstanding long distance gretyhound Lady Toy makes her keenly anticipated NSW debut in Saturday night’s Ladbrokes Stayers Stakes over 720m.
Lady Toy is being prepared for the Group 1 AAA Radiator Specialists Association Cup series which begins with heats at Wentworth Park on March 28.
Another Association Cup campaigner, Opec Bale, also from Victoria, has won nine of 36 races and looks Lady Toy’s main danger on Saturday.
“Lady Toy is a good chaser and should do everything right from box one,” Jamie Ennis said.
“From what I’ve seen of Opec Bale, who has box eight, he would probably be better suited drawn inside.’’
Saturday night’s safest bet should be the consistent Schooner">Schooner Doll, who looks ideally positioned in box one in the Golden Easter Egg Functions Booking Stakes.
Schooner Doll has had 12 wins and 10 placings from 34 starts and has clocked a sizzling 29.83 from box five at Wentworth Park.
He made the pace when second to powerful finisher Karma Connie at the Glebe track last week and Peter Sweeney, whose wife Beverley trains the dog, is delighted with this week’s draw.
“Schooner Doll began well when he won from box five and jumped smartly when he led last week from box four,’’ Sweeney said.
“At his previous four starts he had drawn boxes seven and eight and missed the kick on each occasion before managing to fill placings.
“Naturally I expect box one will ensure he begins well on Saturday.
“It was no disgrace for him to be run down by Karma Connie last week because she had won her previous start over 600m at The Gardens.’’
The rapidly improving Uno Suzie represents outstanding value after drawing box one in Saturday night’s Ladbrokes.com.au Sprint.
The JODIE Lord-trained bitch led throughout at Wentworth Park in a slick 29.88 on February 28 but her second placing behind Silver Label at the same course last Saturday was an even better performance.
After being trapped wide from box seven, Uno Suzie was fourth from the half-way mark to the home turn and rattled home to beat all but the winner.
She will make full use of box one on Saturday, especially as kennelmate Let It Develop (box two) uses a bit of the track and Master Gee, box three is a wide runner.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson’s Saturday Wentworth Park picks:
Best Bet: Schooner Doll (Race 2)
Best Value: Uno Suzie (Race 4)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 2, 1, 7
Race 6 – 1, 8, 3
Race 7 – 1, 2
Race 8 – 3, 2, 7
$20 for 37.03%
