More Finn stayers set to excel

By Jeff Collerson

Champion trainer John Finn is expected to land heats one and three of Saturday night's 720m Ladbrokes Monthly Medal at Wentworth Park with Dreamin' Is Free in box one in the opening heat and Blue Summer Sky in box seven in the third heat.

Dreamin' Is Free and Blue Summer Sky have each won three races over the WP 720m trip and Finn's wife Melinda considers both suitably drawn on Saturday.

"Dreamin' Is Free is perfectly positioned in box one and the wide draw suits Blue Summer Sky,'' Finn said.

"Although Blue Summer Sky has been racing recently over 520m, stepping up to 720m on Saturday night won't worry him.

"He will run the 720m on his ear.''

Hardest for Dreamin' Is Free to beat could be Queenslander Federal Elle, who has box six.

"She has been around Wenty, she was in a 520m maiden race early in her career,'' trainer Corey Mutton said.

"Federal Elle won first-up over 710m at Albion Park two runs back and then had no luck when fifth over the same distance there on October 24.

"The hard 720m run at Wenty will suit her because the further they go, the better Federal Elle likes it.''

Evergreen sprinter Dual Keroma, who finished fourth to Up Hill Jill in last year's Golden Easter Egg, looks poised to return to the Wenty winners' list in race five, a 520m Free-For-All.

Dual Keroma was a certainty beaten when second to Zipping Clive in a similar race at WP last Saturday, going down by only a length after being badly checked at the first turn.

Dual Keroma had jumped well from box six but after being a close second behind pacemaker Poacher at the going into the first bend, he clipped that dog's heels, veered off the track, and lost several lengths.

During that incident hot favourite Zipping Clive secured a rails run to be trailing Poacher on the back straight, and in the straight finished best down the outside.

Dual Keroma's performance to flash home and beat Poacher for second placing was the veteran's best effort in several months.

Dual Keroma has box four on Saturday but is suited by the small field of six and although inclined to be a wide runner, he boasts a surprisingly good record from box four.

In eight outings wearing the blue rug Dual Keroma has registered three wins and three placings.

Ray Pitstock, whose wife Susan trains Dual Keroma, said: "The dog has only recently returned to racing after being struck down with a severe virus.

"He was out of action for four months which meant we could not get him ready for the $100,000 to the winner Masters Meteor on TAB Million Dollar Chase night.

"But Susan and I are just thankful that Dual Keroma has come back okay, because the virus he had knocks a dog's white blood cells around badly.''

Poacher, who cost Dual Keroma the race last week, could help him on Saturday.

A smart beginner and good railer, Poacher has box two and could worry favourite Zipping Clive, box one, in the charge to the first turn.

Best Bet Fantastic Flossy (race 7)

Best Value Dual Keroma (race 5)

Quaddie race 5 - 4, 8, 1

Race 6 - 1, 6, 7

Race 7 - 2, 1, 7

Race 8 - 7, 8

$20 for 37.03%