ZIPPING Maggie trialled brilliantly at Wentworth Park on Tuesday night ahead of her attempt to win her second consecutive Group 3 NSW GBOTA Chairman’s Cup.
The daughter of Turanza Bale and Natalie Rass starts the defence of the title she won in brilliant fashion last year, defeating a field including the great Xylia Allen.
ZIPPING Maggie has box eight in the first heat and will start in decent form, with two wins from her last four starts.
Her passage through to the cup final was made easier on Friday with news that Sweet It Is had been scratched from the heats., and owner-trainer Marty Hallinan is confident of a bold showing.
"I trialled ZIPPING Maggie over 600 metres at Wenty on Tuesday night and she went super,'' Hallinan said.
"But she trialled terrific before she tackled Space Star and couldn't beat him.
"Box eight certainly helps ZIPPING Maggie, especially with a front runner like Ada Mary in box seven."
While Hallinan expects ZIPPING Maggie to qualify for next Saturday night's Chairman's Cup final, her kennelmate ZIPPING Felix, who had drawn box five in heat two, will not be starting due to injury.
ZIPPING Felix's withdrawal gives consistent NSW-trained trio Lithgow Panther, Smooth Number and Lord Golec, a great chance of filling the trifecta in heat two.
Former Victorian Jeremey Rent is an interesting runner in the AAA Radiator Specialists Stakes fifth grade at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Jeremey Rent, who has box two, has won 15 races in Victoria and is now trained by Caroline Hughes at Agnes Banks.
"I think he will go well on Saturday night,'' Hughes said.
"He has been in my kennels for about a month and during that time he has had a look at Wentworth Park so he knows his way around the track.
"I don't know a lot about him but he looks well drawn on Saturday night and he certainly has ability.''
Saturday night's best bet at 'backable' odds should be Lochinvar Amour, who has box one in the final of the Evans & Son Jewellers Bitches' Final.
Lochinvar Amour won her heat in 30.22 and while two of her rivals on Saturday, Rainmaker Lass and Miss Dover qualified in faster times, she should be capable of most improvement.
"She surprised me because she had never seen Wentworth Park before, even in a trial, so I was very happy with her run," trainer Robert Smith said.
Best roughie on Saturday night's card should be Lithgow Panther's kennelmate Jono's Pengala, who has box eight in the wentworthpark.com.au Stakes.
Jono's Pengala has won two of his four races from boxes seven and eight so is ideally drawn.
He has been flying at Bathurst where he has led throughout to win three of his past five starts.
While Saturday night's 520m trip might be as far as he wants to go, it is worth noting the dog has been placed over this course at Wentworth Park.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Lochinvar Amour (Race 8)
Best Value: Jono's Pengala (Race 1)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 3, 8
Race 6 - 3, 4, 6
Race 7 - 7, 6, 2
Race 8 - 1, 4, 5
$20 for 37.03%
