Porrentruy looks ideally drawn to help trainer Gary Adams enjoy a memorable first crack at a Group title in Saturday’s Group 2 Summer Distance Plate (720m) at Wentworth Park.
The greyhound will jump from box one and is currently a $3 second favourite with Sportsbet for the $40,000-to-the-winner final at Wentworth Park after finishing fourth in last Saturday’s heats.
Porrentruy was five-and-a-quarter lengths behind winner and final favourite No Donuts but seems drawn to challenge in the final wearing the red rug.
He has scored seven wins from 14 starts so far and trainer Adams rates his greyhound as a decent chance for the decider.
“Box one is a huge help,” he said. “He likes to get to the fence and he is a better greyhound with dogs outside him than underneath him.
“If he had been drawn out wide it would be a different story, but with this draw it’s right that he’s among the favourites.”
Porrentruy was initially in gun Victorian trainer Robbie Britton’s kennels and enjoyed some impressive early success, including scoring a hat-trick of victories at The Meadows over different distances.
Since transferring to Adams’s western Sydney kennels about three months ago he has scored a sound win over the 590m at Bulli and triumphed at his Wentworth Park 720m debut on January 2.
“(Porrentruy) had had some problems which we hoped weren’t career-ending and luckily he seems to be firing now,” Adams said.
This is a first Group final for Adams, who has been training for almost a decade and is ably assisted by his son and handler Luke.
“I’m a bit nervous but I’m trying to go with the flow this week,” he said.
“I certainly wouldn’t be able to get to race like this without Luke’s help. Having him around makes it all the more satisfying to have a race like this.
“If Porrentruy puts it together on the night, he’s got a chance.”
Recent Group 1 Sale Cup winner No Donuts (pictured wearing black rug, box seven) currently leads the market at $2.60 with Sportsbet.
A recent addition to gun western Sydney trainer Anthony Azzopard's kennel, No Donuts has won 10 of his last 12 starts and triumphed in last Saturday’s heats.
The only question mark is whether he can handle the 720m, given how he tired late in the final stages of his heat last week.
Consistent Ryno’s Raider (box two, $3.80), who has scored four wins and five minor placings from his last 11 starts, showed a super engine to finish a strong second behind No Donuts and should challenge again.
The Group 2 Summer Plate is part of a star-studded night of racing at Wentworth Park this Saturday, which also includes the Group 1 Ladbrokes Paws Of Thunder Final (520m).
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
For Sportsbet's prices on Wentworth Park Saturday, click here.
Group 2 Summer Distance Plate Box Draw (Sportsbet prices in brackets): 1. Porrentruy ($3); 2. Ryno's Raider ($3.80); 3. Whittaker ($9); 4. Smooth Number ($41); 5. Phantom Reign ($13); 6. Wild Fire ($18); 7. No Donuts ($2.60); 8. Sky Book ($13). Res: Are Jip ($21).
Prices correct at the time of writing.
