Few greyhounds are more deserving of a city win than bush dog Jock Colley and box one presents the dog with his best Wentworth Park chance tonight (race seven, 520m).
Trained at Raglan, near Bathurst, by John Jones, Jock Colley has been placed in six of his seven Wentworth Park races as well as being runner-up in major country races, the Goulburn Cup and Lithgow Golden Muzzle, late last year.
"Jock Colley pulled up well after finishing third to Zipping Potter and Saint Gallon at his most recent Wentworth Park race on December 30 when he had box three,'' Jones' wife Maureen said.
"It is a three hours’ drive to Wenty from our place and when we first started bringing him to Sydney Jock Colley was up and down in the car all the way.
"But he has settled down now and handles the trip well so from box one he gets his chance to finally breakthrough in town.
"Little Digger looks the toughest to beat because while he is a bit slow early he is strong and we are hoping he is not sitting just behind us on the back straight.''
Little Digger's trainer Jack Smith has three unraced youngsters in tonight's Heats of the 520m Ladbrokes Maiden Series.
"Irinka Milo, who has box four in Heat one, is the quickest of my trio,'' Smith said.
"But like my other two maiden entries, Irinka Hamo and Irinka Leanne, he is inexperienced and are still learning.
"But Irinka Milo has a good motor in him while Irinka Hamo also goes all right.''
Irinka Milo was impressive in an all-the-way win in a 520m performance trial at Bathurst on December 18, stopping the clock at a slick 30.06, defeating Irinka Hamo by nearly four lengths.
Irinka Milo's toughest rival looms as Chit Chat Chicki, who has had three performance trials for trainer Christine Proctor.
"Her time of 30.44 when she led from the first turn to win over 520m at Dapto on January 4 was nothing flash but that was the first time she had been tried beyond 472 metres,'' Proctor said.
Irinka Hamo faces stern opposition in Heat two from Steelcity Boxing (box four) and Stompin' Ground (box seven).
Steelcity Boxing, trained by Darryl Thomas, is unraced but led throughout to win a 450m performance trial at Bathurst on December 18 in a fast 25.98.
Stompin' Ground has been well schooled by trainer Peter Sims and impressed when tackling 520m for the first time at in a performance trial at Bathurst on January 1.
Stompin' Ground went solo but railed well and clocked 29.92, fastest time of the day.
Heat three of the Ladbrokes Maiden looks a match between Winsome Money, trained by John Finn, and the Darryl Thomas-prepared True And Correct.
Winsome Money has not raced since November 10 when he finished third in a semi-final of the Globe Memorial Maiden Classic at Richmond.
He had box one in that race and lost all chance through veering off the track at the first turn, so he looks ideally positioned in box eight tonight.
True And Correct is unraced but led all the way to win a 515m performance trial at LADBROKES GARDENS on December 9, recording 30.36, fair time for a newcomer.
Jeff Collerson’s Selections
Best Bet: Winsome Money (race 4)
Best Value: Jock Colley (race 6)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 1, 6, 8
Race 6 - 2, 4, 8
Race 7 - 1, 8, 3
Race 8 - 6, 5
$20 for 37.03%
