Jack Heads To Wenty With Hopefully A New Sensation
By Jeff Collerson
Feral Franky's group race career was launched when he won the 2019 New Sensation at Wentworth Park and his trainer Jack Smith has given himself every hope of taking out the 2021 event with four strong chances in Tonight's heats at headquarters.
Going into the New Sensation final two years ago, Feral Franky had won only two of eight Wentworth Park starts but his defeat of King Cratos and Nangar Diva started the ball rolling and Smith's champion retired nine months later with 24 wins from 44 races and over $482,000 in earnings.
Tonight the FORBES-based Smith has Irinka Riley in box one in heat two, Daisy's Boy (box two, heat three), Jungle Deuce (box one, heat four) and Dip It In exiting box eight in heat five.
Each of Smith's starters is talented but he is especially keen on the chances of Jungle Deuce, even though the dog has been beaten in each of his past four races.
Jungle Deuce (pictured) began his career in blazing fashion, winning his first five races, including four at Wentworth Park, but has managed only placings in two of four subsequent outings.
Irinka Riley was desperately unlucky when slowly away and checked at the first turn before finishing third at Dubbo last Thursday and is perfectly placed in box one.
"He has plenty of ability but just can't get going early,'' Smith said.
"Hopefully, because he has drawn the rails, Irinka Riley will drive up along the fence at the first turn.''
Dip It In led throughout from box five to post his personal best Wentworth Park winning time of 29.76 last Wednesday and Smith is confident he will handle box eight.
"Dip It In just loves Wenty, he goes better there than anywhere else.''
The FORBES trainer conceded his other runner, Daisy's Boy, is not quite in the same class as his other three runners, despite the dog's all the way win from box one in 30.09 at Wentworth Park last week.
"Daisy's Boy deserves a crack at this race but he is not as quick as his kennelmates,'' Smith said.
"From box two he is likely to want to push up the track so he will probably give Zipping Pearson, who has box one, a good run to the first corner.''
Hardest for Daisy's Boy to beat should be Coast Model, who has box three and drops in class after running a cheeky race when fourth, beaten four lengths, in Fire Legend's heat of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park last Saturday.
"She pulled up well after that race and with a clear run should be awfully hard to beat,'' said trainer Jodie Lord.
"Coast Model is a really good bitch and has a big future.''
Lord's husband Andy has fastest qualifier Bandit Ned in box seven in Tonight's group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden final.
"I haven't trialled him since his semi-final win last week, dogs like Bandit Ned go better when kept away from trial tracks,'' Lord said.
"He is nice and fresh and if he brings his Goulburn trial form to Wenty he could become a star.''
