Justin King returned to Wentworth Park for the first Time since winning with Outta Nowhere a year ago to land a long-priced win with Big Daz on Saturday night.
Despite having two wins and a second from his previous three starts at the provincials, Big Daz was sent out a $31 chance and led all the way to win a 520m fifth grade in 30.38sec.
"He was big odds but he was drawn in a particularly strong field,'' King said later.
"The last winner I had at Wenty was a promising dog called Outta Nowhere, who won in July, 2017.
"He looked like being a good sprinter but the morning after his Wentworth Park win he was so lame he couldn't walk, and he has not raced since.
"Big Daz was formerly trained by my good friend Brad Barber, but when he quit the sport a year ago to concentrate on his house painting business, he gave the dog to me.''
King trains at Londonderry and it was a successful night for western Sydney trainers with Jodie Gordon dead-heating with Rostered On in a heat of next week's $9000 to the winner Ladbrokes Monthly Model.
Rostered On led until the last stride before dead-heating with Rohan Hill in 30.20 in the first heat with Little Digger storming home to snatch a last stride win over Modus Operandi in 30.01sec in heat two.
It was Little Digger's eighth win in 20 starts and although the Ray Smith-trained dog is considered a keen railer, his victory on Saturday was his third in five starts from box eight.
Time standard for the Wentworth Park 520m on Saturday was recorded by True Talent, a new addition to the kennels of Hunter Valley trainer Jason MACKAY.
Having his fourth start for MACKAY, the former Victorian was especially impressive, coming from fourth at box rise and second going through the pen to hit the front on the back straight.
He had dashed past Big Bender at that point and ran home in a slick 11.75sec before covering the 520m in the outstanding Time of 29.77sec.
True Talent has now registered three wins from four starts for his new trainer, after winning 11 of 41 outings in Victoria.
Londonderry was to the fore again in Saturday's sole 720m race, when the Frank Hurst-trained King Panda maintained his remarkably consistent long-distance form by winning a non grade event by two lengths in 42.73sec.
King Panda trailed Starzsa Light to near the home bend where he dashed clear, before holding on to win by two lengths in 42.73sec.
King Panda has now had two wins and two seconds from five Wentworth Park staying races, and in his past four starts over the 720m trip has posted 42.80, 42.65, 42.68 and now 42.73. Now that's consistency.
Trainer Jodie Lord has long had a high opinion of Taken King but the dog had been unplaced in two previous Wentworth Park races, with his box manners letting him down.
Taken King was again last to leave the boxes in Saturday's final race, a 520m fifth grade, but secured a clear rails’ run in the early stages to be fourth at the half way mark, and second at the top of the straight, before careering away for a four lengths win in 30.01sec.
See you next week!
