Kyra Miss is poised to give Michael Bamback his first Wentworth Park winner in 20 years as a hobby trainer tonight.
After racking up five placings at Wentworth Park, Kyra Miss is drawn to win the opening event on the card – a 5th grade over 520m.
“She is ideally placed in box eight and has dropped down to fifth grade company so she gets her chance,” Bamback said.
“Kyra Miss has won seven races for me at the provincials. I was happy with her third at Wentworth Park last Saturday as she chased home Cosmical, who has won seven races in town, and Knight Sprite, the Richmond Derby winner.
“This looks an easier race and I'm hopeful she can give me my first city winner after being a hobby trainer on and off for two decades.”
Most trainers jump for joy when their greyhounds draw box one but Budgewoi's Carol Hudson winced when Viva Opal came up with the rails in tonight's seventh race – another 5th grade over the 520m.
Viva Opal has taken a liking to Wentworth Park, winning easily at her second race on the track on May 3 from box seven before finishing second from box four there last Saturday.
“Her run last week was excellent because the pacemaker got wide at the first turn and carted Viva Opal off the track,” Hudson said.
“Viva Opal usually gets out of the boxes quick smart but she will need to do that on Saturday night. If she doesn't nail the start and has greyhounds on her outside at the first turn she won't like it one bit.”
Viva Opal's record bears out Hudson's comments as the greyhound has not won in three races from box one, but has won three of her six starts from boxes seven and eight. But wide runners like Viva Opal can still win if they begin quickly and lead around the first turn, which is a possible scenario on Saturday night.
Vintage Rox is another greyhound down in class on Saturday, dropping from top grade at his past two starts to a 3/4th grade race (race five, 520m).
“He goes left when he leaves the starting boxes so box six is no bonus but having a vacant box on his inside helps,” Vintage Rox’s trainer Craig Chappelow said.
“I'm worried he could be short of a run because his race was abandoned last Saturday night but Vintage Rox is naturally strong so I'm hoping that will offset his missing last week's race.”
Chappelow's consistent greyhound Cosmical faces his toughest test when he takes on the in-form Old Bailey in the Ladbrokes.com,au final (race six, 520m).
Cosmical led throughout to win his heat in 30.22 while Old Bailey was fastest heat winner with a blistering 29.85 performance.
“In Cosmical's favour is that his box manners are impeccable,” Chappelow said.
“He is owned by Peter Jonas, who is on the coaching staff at the Sydney Swans AFL team, and I sold him to Pete as a puppy after he had bad luck with his previous greyhound.”
Poppa Ogg threw away a Wentworth Park race last week when he finished third after racing very wide from box one so could atone from box eight in race 10 – a 5th grade over the 520m.
Jeff Collerson’s selections
Best Bet: Poppa Ogg (Race 10)
Best Value: Kyra Miss (Race 1)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 6, 1
Race 6 - 3, 6, 8
Race 7 - 1, 6, 2
Race 8 - 2, 1, 3
$20 for 37.03%
