Aston Duke and ZIPPING-clive">ZIPPING">ZIPPING Clive, who gave trainer Jason MACKAY two of his three winners at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night, will tackle the Group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby next month.
Heats of the Derby, open to dogs whelped on or after October 1, 2015, will be held at Wentworth Park on January 27 with Preludes on December 27 and the final, worth $75,000 to the winner, on February 3.
Aston Duke, a younger half-brother to Melbourne and Ballarat Cup winner Aston Dee Bee, made an auspicious Wentworth Park debut on Wednesday in scoring by seven lengths in 30.21.
"That was a good effort because he had not previously seen Wenty and ran off at the first turn,'' MACKAY said.
Aston Duke's time was bettered on Wednesday only by his kennelmate ZIPPING Blaze, who won in 30.20 but is a month too old for the Derby.
ZIPPING-clive">ZIPPING Clive, who came from seventh at the first turn to win on Wednesday in 30.30 and his litter brother ZIPPING-mack">ZIPPING Mack, who was a certainty beaten when third in 30.61, are also being set for the Derby.
"ZIPPING-clive">ZIPPING Clive was well suited in box seven on Wednesday as he likes to get wide while ZIPPING-mack">ZIPPING Mack is probably faster than any of them but is a big 38kg dog who is still working out what racing is all about,'' MACKAY said.
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Maggie Marvel, fastest qualifier for Wednesday night's Gosford to Wentworth Park Final, is being set for the Group 1 National Futurity, the female equivalent of the Derby.
The Futurity is held over the same time frame as the Derby and Maggie Marvel's trainer Michelle Shambler said: "She broke down at her only Wentworth Park start on October 4 but is going really well again.
"I think she is up to Futurity class and deserves her chance in that race, so I plan to nominate her for the Futurity Preludes at Wentworth Park on December 27.''
Maggie Marvel has won at Dapto in 29.95 and at Gosford in 29.93, suggesting Shambler is entitled to consider her greyhound up to Group 1 standard.
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Sky Wave, who has just completed the Maitland Future Stars and Bathurst RSL Soldiers Saddle double, will attempt to maintain her unbeaten record at Gosford tonight.
Sky Wave's win at Bathurst last week took her record to seven wins from seven starts for trainer Vic Sultana and owner Chenhao Sun.
Vic Sultana's son Darren said: "Dad is not in a hurry to bring Sky Wave to Wentworth Park because he is old school in that he likes his greyhounds to go through the grades at the provincials before coming to town.''
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Rodney Metselaar landed a double with members of the same superbly bred litter at Richmond last Wednesday.
Metselaar was successful with Pure Project, who won over 400m in a smart 22.87 and Project Mouse, who scored over the same trip in 23.21.
Pure Project and Project Mouse are by Awesome Project from Isadoll, who won 10 of 21 races including the 2010 Group 1 Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park.
Both Isadoll and Awesome Project, whose 69 starts yielded 31 wins and $357,100 in stakes, were raced by Brad Canty, breeder and owner of Metselaar's youngsters.
"I am training four from the litter, the others being Awesome Doll, who finished second at Richmond on December 8 and Perfect Project, who won over 414m at Lithgow last month,'' Metselaar said.
"Hopefully with maturity they will be able to run 520m and come to Wentworth Park.''
Metselaar has had great recent success with litter brother and sister Tap Out Axe and Tap Out Scarlet, who have won 25 races between them.
"They are nearly four years old and because they were getting a bit sour I gave them a change of scenery and sent them out to Dubbo trainer Charmaine Roberts,'' Metselaar said.
"Tap Out Scarlet is nearing the end of her career but Tap Out Axe has found form again, and won well at Dubbo on December 8.''
