Wide Draw A Reason To Smile

By Jeff Collerson
Rhyme No Reason, the younger brother of champion stayers Poco Dorado, Blue Moon Rising and Veloce Nero, had to miss last Friday's Young Star Classic heats but there was nothing amiss and the John Finn-trained dog is raring to go in Saturday night's sixth race at Wentworth Park.

"Rhyme Nor Reason was first reserve for a heat of the TAB Million Dollar Chase on October 9 and when he got a run in that race he was not permitted to contest his Young Star heat 24 hours later,'' Finn's wife Melinda explained.

"But he is well positioned in Saturday night's fifth grade as while he is no world-beater, Rhyme No Reason goes well when he draws wide and he has box seven on Saturday.''

Rhyme No Reason has a great record from outside traps as he has won five of his nine starts when drawn in boxes six, seven and eight.

Among Rhyme Nor Reason's toughest rivals on Saturday looks to be his kennelmate Aston Onyx, a recent addition to the successful Finn kennels.

Aston Onyx made his debut for Finn when a fading second to Handsome Prince at Wentworth Park on October 3 before making the pace again when third to Sovereign King and Topper Phoenix at headquarters a week later.

Cheeky Lass, who has box one, and Aston Onyx, in three, look the likely early leaders on Saturday but Rhyme Nor Reason has the draw to be able to sweep around his rivals on the back straight.

By Five Helen flashed home when second, beaten a neck, by Temper Tears in a 720m mixed stakes at Wentworth Park on October 7 but can turn the tables when the pair meet again in a similar class race on Saturday.

Before coming from second on the home turn to win her most recent race, Temper Tears had been runner-up in two of three WP long-distance outings.

By Five Helen though was having her first start at Wentworth Park and came from well back in the early stages and third on the home bend to just miss in 42.82.

"She should be improved by that race as By Five Helen had not previously seen the Wenty track and she was having her first crack at 720m,'' trainer Kim Sherd said.

"By Five Helen got caught up a little when she going around one of her rivals and with that experience and a clear run on Saturday night I'm hoping she can get down to around the 42.50 mark.''

Last year's Masters Meteor winner Blabba Mouth fell in his heat of the 2020 race last Saturday night but took no harm from that tumble and should be back in the winner's list after Saturday night's meeting.

Blabba Mouth, who had been trialling in under the 30sec mark before his comeback race last week, has box four in the 520m Ladbrokes Cash In Masters Stakes.

The first turn could decide the winner of Saturday's 520m Free-For-All with Cumbria Belle (box two) and Aston Lee (three) likely to be battling for the lead in the run to the corner.

Cumbria Belle has shown good early speed to win two of her three starts from box two but does tend to use a bit of the track while Aston Lee, successful in two from three races out of box three, is a handy railer who also goes quick when she exits the starting traps.

Aston Lee had box three when he led throughout to defeat Million Dollar Chase finalist Awesome Catch at Wentworth Park on September 26 while his last in Flying Ricciardo's Chase semi-final on October 9 can be discarded.

Aston Lee exited box four in that event and after being trapped outside a wide runner at the first turn he lost all chance.

Best Bet Rhyme No Reason (race 6)

Best Value By Five Helen (race 5)

Quaddie race 5 - 4, 6, 7

Race 6 - 7, 3, 4

Race 7 - 2, 3

Race 8 - 3, 2, 5

$20 for 37.03%