Christine Proctor has won an age classic at Wentworth Park before with her star greyhound Bessy Boo, and believes history could be repeated by her Bekin Street in Saturday tonight’s Group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park.
The Peter Mosman – which Bessy Boo won in 2014 - and the Vic Peters are Wentworth Park's major Group 1 age classics and Proctor is excited about the similarities between Bessy Boo and Bekin Street.
“They are similar types of greyhounds and have the same degree of talent,” Proctor said.
“Bessy Boo was drawn as first reserve for the 2014 Peter Mosman but because of a scratching he secured a start from box one and won.
“On semi-final times Bekin Street was the last dog to make this Saturday's final and he too has come up with box one.
“All he has to do now is to use the draw but the only time in his career that he has had box one Bekin Street defeated Mister Twister in the NSW Sprint Championship.”
Jodie Lagogiane, whose greyhound Shallay Pallay is considered Bekin Street's main danger, admits Proctor's greyhound will be hard to beat.
“Shallay Pallay has to nail the start but if he does he is capable of leading around the first turn,” Lagogiane said.
“If that happens Shallay Pallay will take a lot of catching, although I also have a healthy respect for Chasin' Crackers, who has box seven. Chasin' Crackers is capable of running similar early sectional times as Shallay Pallay.”
Anthony Azzopardi, who trained Zambora Brockie to win the 2015 Vic Peters Classic in race record time of 29.58, admits his 2017 finalist Crash Bandicoot faces a tough task from box six.
“Crash Bandicoot is a handy dog but is not in the same class as Zambora Brockie and I doubt any of this year's finalists are capable of clocking the time Brockie recorded in 2015,” Azzopardi said.
“Box six is no help to Crash Bandicoot because while he will run straight from the start to the first corner, he will want to cross to the rails when he reaches the bend.”
The Group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic is race seven on the card.
Click here for fields, form and selections.
Jeff Collerson’s picks
Best Bet: Modus Operandi (Race 6)
Best Value: Charrua (Race 10)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 1, 8
Race 6 - 1, 2, 8
Race 7 - 1, 2
Race 8 - 4, 1, 8
$20 for 55.55%
