Ebby Ripper, NSW's most consistent stayer, is on target for a richly deserved Group race success after posting a near personal best 42.21 Wentworth Park 720m win on Saturday night.
Michael Eberand's bonny stayer came from third early to win Saturday's Free-For-All by five lengths from Big Daddy Bee, with pacemaker Starzsa Light just under a length away third.
Ebby Ripper covered the 720m in 42.21, just .05sec outside her fastest time over the Wenty long-distance journey and she will now tackle next Saturday night's Group 3 Wentworth Park Gold Cup.
If Ebby Ripper can score her 10th Wentworth Park 720m win by taking out the $25,000 to the winner Cup, she will lift her earnings to more than $214,000.
“Ebby Ripper can win races in 42.10 or get beaten in 42.80, it all depends on what sort of run she gets through the field,'' owner-trainer Eberand said on Saturday night.
“She did a really professional job tonight though.''
Umatilla, who is no world beater in solo time trials but loves racing against other dogs, notched his fifth Wentworth Park win when he flashed home to win Saturday night's 520m Free-For-All.
Umatilla was fifth at the first turn and despite losing a length when hampered on the back straight, charged home from third on the home bend to win by a neck.
Trained at Newcastle by Ron Bell for Ken Peddie and Ray Smith, Umatilla edged out another fast finisher, Watch The Wasp, with pacemaker Real Simple close up in third place.
”The small field of six suited Umatilla,'' part owner Peddie said.
“When Rita's Boy and Little Digger were scratched I gave our dog a real chance because I thought they were likely to be in front of Umatilla in the early stages.
“And as they are strong he would have been hard pressed running them down, but when they were out he was likely to get the race run to suit him.''
Fellow owner Smith said: "We own dogs which run much faster time than Umatilla in trials but are struggling to win a race, yet he has now won 10 of 32 starts because he is a real race dog.''
Dapto trainer Charlie Micallef described Mount Brown as "like a son to me'' after the greyhound scored his 10th win, and his third at Wentworth Park, on Saturday night.
Mount Brown led throughout to win a 520m fourth grade from the luckless Kilkee May, with Deejay Frankie a distant third.
“Mount Brown is like a pet, I have never had a greyhound like him, all he wants to do at home is to play,'' Micallef said.
Trainer Jason Magri got great satisfaction from Saturday's quick 29.98sec win by new kennel acquisition Catch Me Curley, who ran down Elusive Wave to win a 520m fifth grade.
“I had a good bet on my dog Bad Boy Joe in a race at Wentworth Park last August and I was surprised when Catch Me Curly beat us,'' Magri said.
“Now he is in my kennel and Catch Me Curly is going really well, he is going to make up into a handy dog.''
In-form trainer Neil Staines continued his great run when Tilikum recorded fastest 520m time of 29.93 to win a 520m fifth grade heat on Saturday night.
See you next week!
