Elaborate Shaping Up Well For Wentworth Park

By Jeff Collerson

Elaborate had no luck when runner-up at her Wentworth Park debut last week and a good draw in a suitable race makes her look Wednesday night's best value bet at headquarters.

The daughter of El Grand Senior and Little Grey has box eight in heat one of the Evans & Son Jewellers Bitches Series over 520m and trainer Shaun Evans expects her to run well.

"She is well boxed out wide and her run last Wednesday night was good as she was checked when leading narrowly at the first turn,'' Evans said.

"Elaborate had not previously been out of the starting boxes at Wenty but had gone well in a post-to-post hand-slip, clocking 24.59.''

The main danger to Elaborate on Wednesday could be the in-form Six Sense, who has recorded blistering times in winning over 520m at Dapto at her past two starts.

But Six Sense has not seen Wentworth Park in a race or trial and as a good railer lacking early pace is going to need luck from her box seven draw.

Her trainer Loretta Rice is more upbeat about the prospects of Natahli Dedee, who has box four in heat four of the Evans & Son Series.

Natahli Dedee, whose Wentworth Park tally stands at four wins and four placings from 16 starts, clocked a slick 26.35 in defeating top grader Berzerk over 472m at Bulli on October 8.

"Since the Bulli race I gave Natahli Dedee a post-to-post slip at Dapto and she clocked 24.25 which is very good,'' Rice said.

An interesting Wentworth Park debutante on Wednesday is the Mark Bell-trained Nana's Habit, who has box four in heat two of the fascinating Evans & Son Series.

Nana's Habit has won her past three races in impressive fashion at Canberra and Nowra and while she has trialled around Wentworth Park her trainer is not confident.

"In her trials at Wentworth Park Nana's Habit has not gone as well as she has in her wins at Nowra,'' Bell said.

"She has box four on Wednesday and while she is a strong finisher and a good railer I don't think she will go any quicker than 30.20.

"In her latest Wentworth Park trial Nana's Habit recorded second and third splits of 14.10 and 18.30 and on those times she may not be able to defeat Shaun Evans' greyhound Star Torana.

"Star Torana is an experienced Group race greyhound so is going to test my greyhound, who has had only seven starts for four wins.''

Star Torana's trainer Shaun Evans has Costin in heat three of the Evans & Son and says that greyhound is better now than when she finished fifth at her only Wentworth Park start.

"That was when she was a maiden, back in April, and she missed the start that night,'' Evans said.

"Costin is going a lot better now but I would have preferred to see her drawn wide rather than in box two, which she has on Wednesday.''

Nacho Nellie, a brilliant beginner who has drawn box one, looms as Costin's toughest rival.

Nacho Nellie is undefeated in three starts while wearing the red rug and is a Wentworth Park specialist, boasting an impressive city record of four wins and six placings from 13 races.

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

Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Wednesday picks:

Best Bet: Nacho Nellie (Race 6)

Best Value: Elaborate (Race 4)

Quaddie: Race 5 - 6, 4, 7
Race 6 - 1, 2, 4
Race 7 - 4, 1, 5
Race 8 - 3, 8
$20 for 37.03%