Chris Carl has been among Sydney's most successful hobby trainers of 2017 and he has four strong chances which could land him a winning treble at Wentworth Park tonight.
Carl's quartet - all members of the same litter - are Curtain Call and Rostered On in the 5th grade Ladbrokes Cash Out Stakes (race three, 520m), Fast Car Driving in the 5th grade Ladbrokes Info Hub final (race eight, 520m) and Rhythm Section in thedogs.com.au Stakes (race 10, 520m).
Carl gives Curtain Call the nod over Rostered On in the third event tonight.
“Rostered On could be ahead of Curtain Call in the early stages but he might have trouble getting around Frank Hurst's dog Kiranna, who has box five,” Carl said.
“Curtain Call's third at Wentworth Park last Wednesday was a super run because dogs on his outside charged across him at the start and he had to come from a long way back to snare a placing.
“Curtain Call is a shade quicker than Rostered On and while they are both nicely drawn I lean to Curtain Call.”
Meanwhile, Carl is confident about the chances of Fast Car Driving despite an awkward draw.
“Fast Car Driving was the fastest heat winner of his race and while box six is no help and he has lost a touch of his early speed, he is getting to the line more strongly,” Carl said.
“He should be hard to beat if he gets a clear run.”
Carl is also bullish about the chances of Rhythm Section.
“Rhythm Section is not as fast as her three siblings but she is in what looks to be the easiest race,” he said.
“Rhythm Section is a good railer but she seems to begin faster from outside draws so box six should be okay for her.”
Group race winner Knight Sprite has not won at Wentworth Park since July but is ready to return to the winner's circle in the free-for-all Ladbrokes Multimaker Stakes (race six, 520m)
Knight Sprite turns five next February but is racing in great heart and made the pace when second to Black Hole Sun in a similar race last week.
Trainer Gayle Masterson took the greyhound to Tamworth last Saturday and was happy with Knight Sprite's second placing.
“He had never seen the Tamworth track and might have won had he not lost the corner,” Masterson said.
“After the race he was jumping out of his skin and if he jumps like he did when he finished second at Wenty last week I expect him to be way out in front on the back straight. Box six suits Knight Sprite because he loves being drawn out wide.”
The opening race – the 5th grade Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes (race one, 520m) - should provide punters with the best quinella of the night.
The JODIE Lagogiane-trained Paddy's Pearl is expected to be the pacemaker from box three but she will need to secure a big break to hold out noted strong finisher Shareef, who has box four.
Shareef is slow early but After failing at his first three Wentworth Park races the Mark Gatt-trained greyhound has improved sharply, rattling home to finish second to Absolute Ripper and third to Fast Car Driving at his past two starts at headquarters.
Owner Brendan Wheeler recently refused a decent offer to sell Dyna Orenthal and that greyhound should vindicate Wheeler's decision by winning the 5th grade WP On Facebook Stakes (race seven, 520m).
“I have a high opinion of Dyna Orenthal, who has had six wins and six placings from 22 races,” trainer Simon Rhodes said.
“When Brendan told me he had been asked to sell the dog he inquired if I wanted to keep the dog and when I said I did he agreed to leave him in my kennels.”
