Getting Ready For A Serious Tilt At The National Derby
By Jeff Collerson
SERIOUS Object, one of the most exciting prospects in NSW, has trialled brilliantly at Wentworth Park on the eve of launching his Group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby campaign there on Saturday night.
Trained by Jodie Lord for owner-breeder Peter Spiteri, SERIOUS Object has box seven in the Happy New Year Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
After winning his first six starts SERIOUS Object tasted defeated for the first time when a courageous third to the mighty Flying Ricciardo in a heat of the group 1 Dapto Megastar on December 3.
"He has not raced since Dapto but is going well and clocked 24.09 in a post-to-post hand-slip at Wentworth Park recently and that is very quick,'' Lord said.
SERIOUS Object was whelped on October 22, 2018, so will be among the oldest contestants in the January 15 heats of the Derby, which is open to greyhounds whelped on or after October 1.
Wow's litter brother Ad Astra, desperately unlucky when third in his heat of the Woy Woy Poultry Gold Cup last Sunday, should enhance his tally and maintain his unbeaten Wentworth Park record in Saturday night's Where Else But Wenty Stakes, a 520m fourth grade.
Ad Astra has won eight of 11 starts and his two Wentworth Park appearances have resulted in sizzling 29.78 and 29.80 wins from boxes six and seven, so his box six draw on Saturday should not be a problem.
Ad Astra's main danger looms as Zulu Warlord, who finished third from box one in his heat of the Gosford Cup but who is better positioned out wide on Saturday in box seven.
Esther's Diva, who had no luck when second to the flying Whitfield in a 520m Free-For-All at Wentworth Park on Wednesday, stands out as Saturday's best bet in the Berowra CC Super Maximum Stakes.
This race represents a massive drop in class for Esther's Diva and she seems sure to relish tackling fifth graders after her game last start effort.
On Wednesday she led at the first turn but was held up by another front runner Cheeky Lass, who was showing pace on her inside and prevented Esther's Diva dashing away with a big break.
After being relegated to third spot on the back straight, Esther's Diva finished resolutely in the straight to go down by just over three lengths.
So even in defeat Esther's Diva clocked a highly respectable 29.97, just .16sec outside her best time recorded in 17 appearances at headquarters.
Ice Cream Story resumes from a month's let-up in Saturday night's Ladbrokes Back Yourself Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, but is going well enough to win.
That's the opinion of trainer David Smith who has won three of six Wentworth Park races with the greyhound, whose personal best at Wentworth Park is a fast 29.75.
Ice Cream Story is the only greyhound in Saturday's race to have broken 30 seconds at Wentworth Park and although her quickest win was from box six, Smith is happy seeing her in box two on Saturday.
"Although she has had a break from racing Ice Cream Story is going well and has performed nicely in a couple of 400m trials I have given her recently at Bulli.''
