Sydney's most under-rated greyhound Flash Earner steps up in grade at Wentworth Park on Saturday night but the rise in class should not prevent her notching her fifth win in nine starts at headquarters.
“Miss Consistency’’ Flash Earner has box two in the AAA Radiator Specialists Free-For-All and trainer Shayne Fleming is happy with her inside draw.
“Everyone tells me she is better off drawn wide where she can stay out of trouble but although he runs one or two dogs off the rails I like her boxed inside,’’ Fleming said yesterday.
“Flash Earner can run around 30 seconds flat every time she races at Wentworth Park so that is where she will continue to race.
“Because she usually clocks 5.40 to the first mark I was a bit disappointed when she ran 5.50 last week on her way to winning in 30.20.
“But I thought the track was slow and the fact that No Donuts, who has a big motor, was the only dog to break 30 seconds all night, probably confirms that.
“I have kept Flash Earner on the lead since last Saturday’s win and that is how I always train her.
“When my late father John was training his 1993 Melbourne Cup winner Silver Chisel that is how he approached the dog’s work.
“Dad reckoned once they were fit they didn’t need a trial between each week’s race.’’
Lemon Tree Girl has not won in seven starts from box eight but trainer Caroline Hughes could not be happier with her greyhound’s outside draw in Saturday night’s third heat of the Blue Paws Sprint.
Lemon Tree Girl, who has had 20 Wentwoth Park races for four wins, four seconds and a third, was run down by Are Jip in a strong third and fourth grade contest at the track last week.
But she drops to fifth grade on Saturday night and is the most prolific Wentworth Park winner in the field.
Lemon Tree Girl proved her fitness with a slick trial over 520m at Dapto on Monday.
“I wanted to give her a look at Dapto in case I decide to nominate her for the Oaks heats next week and she beat one of her kennelmates in close to 30 seconds flat,’’ Hughes said yesterday.
“Lemon Tree Girl just loves Wentworth Park though and if she qualifies for the final of Saturday night’s race, which is worth $8000 to the winner, she won’t start in the Dapto Oaks.
“The heats of that race are 48 hours before the Wenty final and I wouldn’t consider backing Lemon Tree Girl up so closely.
“She always runs an honest race and I think box eight is terrific.’’
Saturday night’s most intriguing runner is Kicking Rocks, well drawn in box seven in the Ladbrokes Visa Card Stakes.
Kicking Rocks, who has won two of his four starts wearing the black vest, has returned to owner Ryan Tredway’s Hunter Valley kennels after a lengthy stint in Melbourne.
The dog has not started since December but was a Hobart Thousand finalist and looks the hardest for local favourite Ella Has Class to beat in Saturday night’s race.
Ella Has Class has box two and if she can dodge the speedy Loose Connection, box three, in the charge to the first turn, should prove too strong.
Best Bet: Jewel Action (Race 9)
Best Value: Murphy’s Law (Race 6)
Quaddie:
Race 5 – 2, 1
Race 6 – 2, 6, 5
Race 7 – 2, 7, 3
Race 8 – 2, 5, 3
$20 for 37.03%
