Recent Group 2 Gosford Cup winner Barking Bad, brilliant Victorians Buck Forty and Unlawful Entry and hot NSW newcomer Falcon’s Fury headline this Saturday’s unmissable eight Group 1 Ladbrokes Paws Of Thunder (520m) heats at Wentworth Park.
Shima Song, the recent Group 2 Geelong Gold Cup winner and 2016 Group 1 National Sprint Championship winner Aqua Cheetah also feature in the heats of the $75,000-to-the-winner series, one of the biggest of the year in NSW.
Barking Bad (box three, heat two) was a brilliant winner of last Tuesday’s Gosford Cup and with a win and five minor placings in his last six starts looks bang in form for the series.
Buck Forty (box six, heat four) has been a star for gun Victorian trainer Jason Thompson, with his 16 career wins including victory in last year’s Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic at Wentworth Park.
He clocked a brilliant 29.28 at Sandown Park on January 5 and looks a strong chance for this series.
Buck Forty will likely face some stiff opposition from Unlawful Entry, who jumps from box three in the same heat.
The Sandown Park track record holder ran a dazzling 30.33 over the 545m at Ballarat on January 4 – another track best - and has placed on both his previous visits to Wentworth Park.
Plenty of eyes will be on Falcon’s Fury (box two, heat six), who underlined his huge promise with a sizzling 29.76 triumph at Wentworth Park last Saturday night.
The latest hot newcomer for NSW Central West trainer Paul Braddon, Falcon’s Fury has won all three of his visits to the Sydney track and has nine wins from 13 starts so far.
Victorian Shima Song (box one, heat eight) won on his return to Wentworth Park last Saturday night in a strong 30.09, while Aqua Cheetah (box two, heat eight) has won his last two starts and has run 29.96 at Wentworth Park.
Others to watch include star NSW contender Brad Hill Billy (box four, heat three), recent Bulli track record breaker and last start Wentworth Park winner El Magnifico (box four, heat six) and last year’s Goulburn Cup winner Clock’s Ticking (box seven, heat seven).
Benteke (box six, heat one), looks the best value chance for the series.
The Brett Bravo-trained greyhound (pictured) should be fresh for this after a month’s break and has a terrific record at Wentworth Park.
Saturday night’s racing also features two heats of the $40,000-to-the-winner Group 2 Summer Distance Plate over the 720m.
Top pick for the series looks like the brilliant Burn One Down (box six, heat one), who is the country’s top stayer and has run some incredible times in Victoria.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields and form, click here.
