THERE was nothing lucky about Ballows Freak's longshot win at Wentworth Park last Wednesday and the move from box three to box six in tonight's fifth race is almost certainly an advantage.
Ballows Freak jumped cleanly from box three and grabbed the lead approaching the first turn before careering away to win a fifth grade 520m event last week in a blistering 29.77sec.
His second split was a slick 13.95 and he ran home in a powerful 11.76, indicating he has the ability to shine for both the early and latter parts of his races.
Although Ballows Freak started at $18 last week, he was "specked'' in from $21 after reports of a scorching trial at Richmond 72 hours earlier.
Ballows Freak raced in the centre of the track in his five lengths' romp last Wednesday so should be even better suited out wide in box six in tonight's 520m Ladbrokes Cash Out Stakes, a fourth and a fifth grade event.
Syd Swain, who trained Ballows Freak's talented dam Sweet Runner, has bright prospects of taking out race nine, the 520m Ladbrokes Info Hub Stakes, with All Night Fever, who has box two.
All Night Fever was unplaced in her first five Wentworth Park starts but recorded her best performance in town when second, beaten two lengths by Good Odds Harada, at Wenty last Wednesday.
All Night Fever chased the winner from box rise but with Good Odds Harada stopping the clock at a nippy 29.91, Swain's greyhound posted her best Wentworth Park figures of 30.05.
"I like All Night Fever's chances this week,'' Swain said.
"She had box two when she finished fourth at Wentworth Park on January 16 but she is going better now.
"All Night Fever gets a little wide but if she leads, as she is capable of doing, she will rail better.''
Warden Ann, rated by trainer Sam Simonetta as the best greyhound he has trained since his 1995 group 1 runner-up True Tears, makes her keenly anticipated Wentworth Park debut in race seven, the 520m Ladbrokes Multimaker Stakes.
Warden Ann has had eight provincial starts for five wins and two placings and Simonetta thought so highly of her he had intended nominating her for the heats of the group 2 Ladbrokes Richmond Oaks on March 1.
"Unfortunately she picked up a little injury so had to miss that series but she raring to go again now,'' Simonetta said.
"Warden Ann is similar in temperament and ability to True Tears, who won 10 Wentworth Park races for me and finished second to Queenslander Tar Dinn in the 1995 group 1 National Futurity at that track.
"Warden Ann has not been to Wenty but that won't faze her, she handles tracks well first-up.
"Box four is good because Warden Ann has been jumping smartly and as she gets a bit wide on the first corner in her races she is better off there than in box one or two.''
When Warden Ann won at Richmond on February 15 she finished six lengths in front of Vouchers, who proved the form by winning easily in a slick 30.07 at Wentworth Park last Saturday night.
Best Bet: Ballows Freak (race 5)
Best Value: All Night Fever (race 9)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 6, 8
Race 6 - 4, 7, 2
Race 7 - 4, 5, 2
Race 8 - 6, 5, 8
$20 for 37.03%
