Aston Wizard, who staged a remarkable last-to-second performance behind Simon Told Helen in the group 1 Silver Chief Classic, has smashed a Sandown track record in preparation for Friday night's National Derby heats at Wentworth Park.
The Glenn Rounds-trained youngster, who is just 22 months old, recorded an astounding 22.37s in a post-to-post hand-slip at Sandown last Sunday.
Even trainer David Burnett, whose dog Simon Told Helen (pictured) led throughout to defeat Aston Wizard in the Silver Chief, was incredulous.
"Simon Told Helen's best time for a Sandown hand-slip is 22.97s, yet Aston Wizard went around nine lengths quicker!'' Burnett said.
Aston Wizard has box six in heat three of the Derby, but Rounds warned that the dog is usually a slow beginner.
"He is a fast animal but he always needs some luck,'' Rounds said.
"I took him to Wentworth Park on Tuesday, January 7, and Aston Wizard went well in a box-to-box hit-out, so he knows his way around the track.
"I gave him the Sandown trial to top him off for Friday night.''
Rounds also has Aston Peroni exiting box five in heat five of the Derby, and he also trialled in a box-to-box run at WP last Tuesday week.
"He went extra well too, recording similar time to Aston Wizard,'' Rounds said.
"Box five is a bit of a worry because in his past couple of races Aston Peroni has wanted to go hard left when the boxes open, something he did not do in his first eight races.''
Renowned big race trainer Jason Thompson has come up with box one for each of his Wentworth Park group 1 assignments on Friday night, getting the rails with Fire Legend in heat four of the Derby and the same draw with Aston Silk in heat 3 of the group 1 National Futurity.
Aston Silk, undefeated in her only three races, all at Sandown, trialled well at Wentworth Park last week.
"Aston Silk is usually a smart beginner and has plenty of early pace so she should give a good account of herself on Friday,'' Thompson said.
"Fire Legend also trialled at Wenty last week and he also went very well, producing a first split of 5.44 and breaking the 18sec barrier for the third section.
"His first split actually surprised me a little because in Melbourne he has been jumping only fairly but then taking off fast.''
Silver Chief Classic and Queensland Derby winner Simon Told Helen has drawn box seven in heat two of the National Derby but trainer David Burnett is not concerned about the wide draw.
"He has won three group races from box eight so box seven should not worry him,'' Burnett said.
Burnett decided against nominating Simon Told Helen's equally talented litter brother Who Told Stevie for the Derby heats, instead entering the dog for Saturday night's heats of the WP Paws Of Thunder, also a group 1 event.
"I decided to split them up so I could get a crack at both races, rather than see them possibly up against each other in the Derby,'' Burnett said.
Wild Flyer has been costly to punters when placed, without winning, at three of her past four WP starts, but she has a "dream'' draw in heat five of the National Futurity.
Wild Flyer has won brilliantly over 520m at Bathurst at her two most recent starts and at her only race from box one, the draw she has on Friday, she was successful.
She should get the run of the race in her Futurity heat as Victorian sprinter Desiree Devere, who has box two, raced very wide when an all-the-way winner in 30.11 at her only Wentworth Park appearance on January 4.
Desiree Devere set up a huge early lead in that event but almost threw the race away by veering off the track at the first and home turns, before hanging on for a narrow win.
"I can't remember the time Wild Flyer had box one but that is certainly her right draw,'' trainer Hank Vanderburg said.
Best Bet: Aston Silk (race 3)
Best Value Wild Flyer (race 5)
Quaddie race 5 - 1, 5, 6
Race 6 - 6, 7, 1
Race 7 - 7, 3, 1
Race 8 - 6, 1
$20 for 37.03%
