The clash of boom Victorian dog Who Told Stevie and NSW cult hero Feral Franky, will be the highlight of the four heats of the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Four heats of the event were drawn on Wednesday along with two heats of the Summer Distance Plate over 720m also to be run on Saturday night.
The Jack Smith-trained Feral Franky who produced a tremendous run to finish third – albeit well beaten – behind Sennachie in the Group 1 Gold Bullion Final at Albion Park last Friday, has come up with box one, a draw he has jumped from seven times for four wins and three placings.
Who Told Stevie, a winner of eight of his 12 starts, has drawn the three in the same heat, and their clash will be the main drawcard on a great card of racing.
Also in the heat is TAB Million Dollar Chase Consolation winner Nangar Jack who has drawn the two, MDC semi-finalist Caishen who is now racing in fine form for Melbourne Cup winning trainer Anthony Azzopardi, and Feral Franky’s brother Good Odds Buddy who is returning from a two month injury layoff.
The pair’s other brother, MDC winner Good Odds Harada, second to Sennachie in the Gold Bullion, has drawn box eight in the opening heat. His main obstacle will be the Jeff Britton-trained Western Envoy, runner-up in the Melbourne Cup, and winner of the Ballarat Cup two runs back.
Defending Paws Of Thunder champion Buck’s Future returns to defend his title and has drawn box three in the third heat.
Among those hardest for Syd Swain’s dog to beat will be Victorian Fernando Riot (box 4) the ever-reliable Aston Duke (box 5), and King Cratos (box 2), who has returned to form for the in-form Jason Magri kennel.
In the other heat of the Paws Of Thunder, Gosford Cup winner Kid Candle clashes with Victorian quartet, Andrea Dailly’s Jaro Bale, Jeff Britton’s Oakvale Beauty, Azzopardi’s Seal The Deal and Dapto megastar finalist, Keith Hellmuth’s Start A Riot, along with consistent veteran Dual Keroma.
The $75,000 to the winner final will be held on Friday January 24.
In the Summer Plate heats, Victoria’s True Detective, winner of last week’s Gold Cup at Albion Park, has drawn the red, a box which he has won five from five starts.
Dailly’s dog Boom Down who won the Sydney Cup back in October, and who had no luck in Brisbane last week, has drawn the two, while fellow southerner Weblec Eagle is out in the seven.
The locals will be well represented, notably by John Finn pair Blue Moon Rising (box 4) and Really Unreal (box 3), as well as China O’Brien.
NSW’s number one stayer Just Terms has drawn the eight in his heat, and does look a class above his rivals.
