Ritza Daniel Ready For A Wenty Win

By Jeff Collerson
Ritza Daniel made the pace before being run down by National Derby finalist Teddy The Bear and Temora Cup winner Mr Ticket at Wentworth Park last Wednesday and faces weaker opposition in Tonight's Where Else But Wenty Stakes, a 520m fifth grade at headquarters.

Ritza Daniel, who has been placed in five of eight Wentworth Park outings, has box five and won over 400m at Maitland at his only start wearing the yellow rug.

A new addition to the kennels of Andrew Bell, Ritza Daniel ran a reasonable opening split of 5.50 before an excellent second section of 13.80 last week and his trainer believes the dog will strip fitter Tonight.

"I have only had Ritza Daniel a couple of weeks and before last Wednesday most of his racing lately had been over 400m,'' Bell said.

"Last week's race was only his third recent go over 520m and I think he be a lot better for the run.''

Ritza Daniel has box five but with slow beginners New Shepard in box four and Dubrovnik in six, he should enjoy an uninterrupted run from the start to the first corner.


Tonight's best value bet should be My Margarita, an up-and-coming stayer trained by Allan Manwaring at Nowra Hill.

My Margarita ran an even race when fourth, from box seven, at his sole Wentworth Park 720m test and will relish the move to box one in Tonight's National Adoption Day April 18 Stakes.

He goes into Tonight's race fresh from a powerful win over 600m at Dapto last Thursday, when he gave a big start and a beating to a pair of handy middle distance performers in Aston Excalibur and Sound Of Silence.

My Margarita was fourth early but after being third from the back straight to the home turn, roared down the outside to win in a fast 34.49s.

Those figures are just .40s outside the track record set by Fantastic Tail in September, 2015.

"He pulled up well after Thursday's race and is ideally positioned in box one because he loves the fence,'' Manwaring said.

"At his only Wentworth Park 720m start My Margarita had box seven and was posted out wide all the way.

"When I was starting out with dogs, trainers like my dad Les, along with Alfie Hayes and Kevin de Smet, who trained great stayers Travel Rev and Kawati Boy, reckoned greyhounds were ready to tackle 720m when they were two-and-a-half years old.

"That's why My Margarita didn't go over a long distance until last month.''


Leading trainer Jodie Lord has her new acquisitions Minter Rise (box two) and Minter Blaze (three) making their first Wentworth Park appearances in Tonight's 520m fifth grade Happy Birthday Jerome Stakes.

"On what they have done in trials and races at Goulburn Minter Blaze is quicker,'' Lord's husband Andy said.

"If he handles Wenty okay first-up Minter Blaze should go well because he can get out of a box smartly and rails well.''

Minter Blaze could get a clear run to the first turn courtesy of Zambora Lulu, a new addition to Pauline Moran's kennels, who is likely to want to move wide from box four.

Tonight's Ladbrokes Easy Form Free-For-All features an enticing 520m clash between Ebby Jet Power, a brilliant all-the-way winner at Wentworth Park last Wednesday, and Good Odds Harada, who has won 11 of 29 WP starts. 

Best Bet Ritza Daniel (race 10)

Best Value My Margarita (race 2)

Quaddie race 5 - 5, 4, 2

Race 6 - 6, 8, 1

Race 7 - 6, 7

Race 8 - 3, 6, 4

$20 for 37.03%