Spacecraft Ready To Land In Style

By Jeff Collerson

Hot favourite No Donuts was narrowly beaten by Ryley Sams last Saturday night and could be upstaged again at short odds in tonight's Free For All (520m, race eight) at Wentworth Park.

No Donuts has box one but may get cut out at the start by outsider Ballistic Tip, a keen railer and smart beginner.

Lurking out in box five is Spacecraft (pictured), who has not raced for nearly six weeks but is going well.

Spacecraft has won at Wentworth Park in 29.62, just .03 slower than No Donuts' best time.

Troy MacDonald, son-in-law of Spacecraft's trainer Lorraine Atchison said this year's Group 2 Maitland Cup winner was looking back to his best after a refreshing break.

"After Spacecraft missed a place in four Wentworth Park races in May and June we decided to give him a break," MacDonald said.

"We brought him back up again to race fitness and he has run a couple of pleasing trials in readiness for this race.''

Camden Girl was the first greyhound Douglas "Buck'' Rogers ever owned and on Wednesday night her great-great-grand-daughter Camden Valleyway is expected to win first up at Wentworth Park.

Camden Valleyway, who has starred at the provincials with seven wins from 11 starts, has box six in race nine, a 520m fifth grade.

"I wanted to take her through her grades and as Camden Valleyway did not turn two until May there was no rush to bring her to town,'' Rogers said.

"But she knows her way around Wentworth Park. When I trialled her there recently she ran a nice first split of 5.42 and clocked 30.06 overall, which I was happy with.

"She has box six on Wednesday but that is not a great concern because she runs dead straight from the start to the first turn, she is perfect going into the corners.

"Camden Valleyway defeated Wentworth Park top grader Jewel Action when she won at Richmond in May so looks well suited in Wednesday night's fifth grade.''

Magic Spring, trained by Lorraine Atchison's sister Noelene Holloway, will be all the rage for Wednesday night's Ladbrokes Visa Card Final after posting sensational sectional times in his heat win.

Magic Spring uses a bit of the track so is not badly drawn in box six, especially as fastest qualifier Smart Missile, a moderate beginner who relished having box one in his heat, has drawn poorly in seven.

But Terry Priest, trainer of Old Spice, gives his greyhound a great chance of causing an upset.

"Old Spice has box one and he is a very good greyhound from the rails,'' Priest said.

"I gave him a good chance of beating Magic Spring in the heats because my bloke has thrived since racing at Grafton early this month.

"Unfortunately Old Spice drew box eight in his heat but ran a great second behind Magic Spring and from the inside draw, if he can step away cleanly and hold his position at the first turn, he will be hard to beat.''

Funky Punk and Tanks Punk have been burning up the provincial tracks in preparation for races 11 and 10 respectively at Wentworth Park.

"Funky Punk is the quicker of the two," trainer Jim Coyle said. "She has more early speed and is a real little race machine.

"If she gets her own way they can't beat her although box seven is not a plus.

"Tanks Punk lacks early pace but is very strong and appears to be in an easier race than his sister, but he has drawn box five which is no help either.

"But they are familiar with Wenty as I trialled them there a few months back.''

For Wentworth Park Wednesday fields, form and expert picks, click here.

Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Wednesday picks:


Best Bet: Magic Spring (Race 5)

Best Value: Spacecraft (Race 8)

Quaddie: Race 5 - 6, 1, 4, 7
Race 6 - 5, 2
Race 7 - 8, 7, 1
Race 8 - 5, 1
$20 for 41.66%