WHILE Poco Dorado has been sweeping all before her in long distance races in Sydney and more recently in Friday's heats of the group one Bold Trease at Sandown Park, her litter brother and kennelmate Two Times Twice finally returned to his best form by taking out Saturday night's Wentworth Park Free-For-All.
The John Finn-trained Two Times Twice, who had lost form after fracturing a hock in June, was having his eighth start since resuming and finally returned to the winner's circle, trailing Bad Boy Joe to the home turn and getting up in the last couple of strides to win by a neck.
"Since coming back from injury Two Times Twice has been trialling as well as ever but has not been bringing that form to the races,'' trainer John Finn said.
Two Times Twice covered the 520m in 30.03sec but his time was .01sec slower than the best time of the night, shared by Blabba Mouth, Nangar Blaze and Gizza Malarkey.
The Cheryl Murray-trained Blabba Mouth, whose recent excellent form had been in masters' races, returned to a fifth grade and led all the way.
It was the dog's fourth win from his past six starts and Michael Murray, whose wife Cheryl trains the veteran, quipped: "If we knew what we did to make him come good at his age we would do it again immediately!''
Nangar Blaze scored his first win since being purchased by Ray Tanti and going into Bligh Park trainer Mick Hardman's kennels when he railed to the lead leaving the catching pen before winning a 520m fifth grade by more than eight lengths.
"He clocked 24.10 in a post-to-post hand-slip before he ran second at Wenty on November 10 so it was only a matter of time before he won one for us,'' trainer Hardman said.
The George Borg-trained Gizza Malarkey, who chased home Love You More, prepared by his trainer's brother Ernie Borg at Wentworth Park on November 10, notched his third Wenty win in four appearances when he led throughout in a 520m fourth grade.
Of the trio of 30.01sec winners at Wentworth Park, Nangar Blaze recorded the quickest run-home figures of 11.73sec.
With Poco Dorado and company on assignment in Melbourne, rookie stayer Little Digger opened his long-distance account with a tearaway five lengths' win in Saturday's 720m event, stopping the clock at an extremely promising 42.27sec.
Rachel's Dream notched her first Wentworth Park win in two dozen attempts when she ran her rivals off their legs to lead throughout in a 520m fifth grade, clocking a fair 30.40sec.
The win surprised owner-trainer Noelene Holloway, who said: "I only nominated her because the nominations for this meeting were extended.
"Rachel's Dream lost form in October so I turned her out for a spell and let her run around with some puppies in a yard.
"I had not done anything with her but she looked well enough so when the noms were extended I thought I might as well throw her in at Wentworth Park and lo and behold, she has won.''
See you next week!
