Return To Headquarters Rings A Bell For Miss Vee

By Jeff Collerson

Miss Vee, once considered unlikely to win a race beyond 400m, is tipped to lead throughout and notch her second Wentworth Park 520m win on Saturday night.

The Ron Bell-trained speedster is well positioned out wide in box six in race nine, the Prysmian Cables Stakes, a fifth grade event.

Miss Vee made full use of her wide box seven draw in leading throughout at Wentworth Park on March 28, winning by 11 lengths in a slick 30.12 after posting a slick first split of 5.49.

Since then Miss Vee has finished second and third in two Wentworth Park outings but with a notable lack of early pace among her rivals on Saturday she looks set to lead all the way.

In her first four starts Miss Vee managed just a single win in slow time over 400m at LADBROKES GARDENS, and she was unplaced in her first four Wentworth Park outings.

"Even when she was run down in her early Wenty 520m races I was very impressed with her early speed and figured that if she got a bit stronger she would become a handy sprinter,'' trainer Bell said.

Miss Vee has certainly acquired more stamina over the past six weeks and led throughout in the fastest time of the meeting over 515m at LADBROKES GARDENS on March 9.

Ella Enchanted, runner-up in the Group 2 Queensland Futurity final at Albion Park on April 12, makes her eagerly anticipated Wentworth Park debut in race three, the Evolt & Atom Lighting Stakes.

Ella Enchanted has been competing against Australia's top bitches at Albion Park so should relish the drop to fifth grade company in Saturday's 520m race.

"I was pleased with her effort to finish second to She's Gifted in Brisbane's Futurity final because she drew box three and had a lot of trouble getting past the greyhound in box two,'' trainer Darren Sultana said.

"Ella Enchanted does seem to prefer to run around her opponents but for her Wenty debut I am not unhappy to see her in box one.

"While she might prefer box eight I would rather see her on the rails than in a middle draw.''

Ella Enchanted boasts the remarkably consistent record of five wins and four seconds from 10 starts and has won over 472m at Bulli in a blistering 26.08.

Veloce Nero, who finished fifth in the Queensland Futurity final, should only need a clear run from box five to win race five, the 520m Go Electrical fifth grade.

Veloce Nero will be value because of her draw but she handles herself well in a field and has won three of her seven Wentworth Park outings, the latest from box five on March 21.

Also dropping in class on Saturday night is the Charlie Riccio-trained Catch The Love, who has box eight in race two, the 520m fifth grade Electra Cables Stakes.

"Catch The Love trialled a reasonable 30.40 when having his first look at Wenty and after his run in a heat of the Nowra Puppy Classic on Monday night I decided to nominate him for Saturday's city meeting,'' Riccio said.

"Catch The Love wound up finishing sixth to Black Forge on Monday but was in the race for a long way and in a trial at Nowra he had gone quicker than Mark Gatt's dog Sanjiro, who won his Classic heat.

"Hit Record, who has very good form, does look the winner but I think Catch The Love can run a cheeky race from box eight.''

Saturday's top grade race, the 520m Omni Lighting Stakes, features a mouth-watering clash between in form trio Ritza Lenny (box two), Umatilla (six) and Miss Splendamiro (eight) and
NSW National Sprint Championship winner Bekin Street (one), who is on the comeback trail after being out injured.

The draw favours Ritza Lenny, who has won three of his five races from box two, although Miss Splendamiro, despite being a good railer, has been successful in two of her five appearances wearing the pink rug.

Jeff Collerson’s Selection’s
Best Bet: Miss Vee (Race 9)
Best Value: Veloce Nero (Race 5)

Quaddie
Race 5 - 5, 3
Race 6 - 2, 5, 8
Race 7 - 6, 1, 4
Race 8 - 2, 8, 6
$20 for 37.03%