A slick trial over 515m at Unibet Gardens on Monday prompted trainer Billy Davidson to postpone Carlukal's middle distance debut and the greyhound is poised to score a belated win at Wentworth Park tonight.
Carlukal, who has had six wins and six placings from 26 provincial starts, has been placed in just one of four Wentworth Park races but gets his chance in Saturday's seventh event – a heat of the 4/5th grade Ladbrokes.com.au series.
“He just lacks a bit of early speed but is well drawn near the rails in box two and if he can be in the first three around the first turn Carlukal will be hard to hold out,” Davidson said.
“In his first three starts at Wenty he missed the jump badly but he began a bit better last start but then found trouble and had no luck, finishing sixth. After that I intended to test him in a longer 600m race but on Monday I trialled him over 515m at The Gardens and Carlukal recorded 29.67.
“That is the fastest time he has clocked there so I decided to nominate him for Wenty and give him one more try over 520 metres.”
Favourite for Carlukal's race will be Vintage Rox, who, as a winner of nine races at Wentworth Park, is particularly well placed. But Vintage Rox has box five and will need luck early to avoid being pressured in the charge to the first turn by brilliant beginner Wonelova Gunn, who has box six.
In other action at Wentworth Park on tonight, Darren Sultana has three strong winning chances to build on the back of his winning double at the Glebe track last weekend.
The Londonderry trainer has Poppa Ogg and Cosmic Vintage in box one in races one and six respectively and the vastly improved Starburst Bassy in box six in race two, which is another heat of the Ladbrokes series.
Cosmic Vintage and Starburst Bassy were Sultana's winners last Saturday, but Poppa Ogg appeals as his best chance this week.
Last Saturday, Poppa Ogg, having only his second start at Wentworth Park, dwelt at box rise but joined pacemaker Bit Wicked at the half-way mark. But Poppa Ogg, who had exited box six, was caught outside the leader and Bit Wicked, with the advantage of the rails running, drew away to win comfortably with Sultana's greyhound a game second.
“Poppa Ogg had not been to Wenty for a while so he should benefit from last week's run,” Sultana said.
“In the past he has raced better from outside boxes but maybe that's because he has had box eight on six occasions and has never had box one.
“He has only drawn inside box four once, and when that happened he won from box two. So I'm happy with his rails draw.”
Cosmic Vintage has won each of her two races from box one but Sultana said he feels she races better from outside boxes.
“Previously she had been inclined to run wide but she didn't veer off before she won last week so perhaps she is learning,” Sultana said.
“Starburst Bassy has won five of his seven races from box one so box six does not suit him. But he is racing so well, and has a good turn of early pace, so he may be able to cross his rivals and lead at the first turn on Saturday.”
Although he is a slow beginner and has box five, Winsome Mission is the greyhound to beat in race two.
Winsome Mission collided when in a winning position before finishing second to Bulkender at Wentworth Park last Saturday night and meets weaker opposition tonight.
Jeff Collerson’s selections
Best Bet: Poppa Ogg (Race 1)
Best Value: Carlukal (Race 7)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 8, 1
Race 6 - 6, 1, 4
Race 7 - 2, 5, 6
Race 8 - 2, 3
$20 for 55.55%
