Finn Ready To Turn Back Time

By Jeff Collerson
John Finn will attempt to wind back the clock two decades at Wentworth Park on Saturday night by winning the group 3 Bob Payne Sprint with Zipping Kyrgios - a race he won with Winsome Dollars in 2001.

Zipping Kyrgios, who came from fourth in the middle stages to win his heat last Saturday in 29.72, has box seven in the final.

Fastest qualifier Zulu Warlord, who led throughout from box five in 29.58, has drawn the rails, while the other heat winner Casual Glance, who was never headed and clocked 29.78, will start from box six.

John Finn's wife Melinda said: "We are happy with Zipping Kyrgios' draw because as long as he begins cleanly he should get a good run down the outside.

"But Zulu Warlord looks the dog to beat from box one because he has speed to burn.''


Michael Hardman, Zulu Warlord's trainer, said: "I have always preferred my dog drawn in the middle because he wants to use a bit of the track.

"But he should be all right from the one as long as he gets away smartly.

"I hope he does because if he happens to miss the kick he could cause carnage at the first turn.

"In his favour is that after his heat win he pulled up better than ever before, and he not only got to the line more strongly than previously, but he didn't get as wide.

"When he came past me on the home bend he was only about two dogs off the fence, while previously he would have been out very wide.''


Second Exit set the time standard in last week's four heats of the group 3 Ladies Bracelet after leading throughout from box two, but trainer Jodie Lord's husband Andy considers their greyhound better drawn in box seven in Saturday's final.

"She came out running from box two in her heat but in the past Second Exit has always raced better from wide boxes,'' Andy Lord said.

"That's why we are happier seeing her in box seven than we would have been had she drawn near the rails.

"Second Exit has won 22 races, including eight at Wentworth Park, so she has had more experience than most of her rivals on Saturday.

"As far as class goes, she is graded to win.''

Second Exit's handler Paul Mills has already tasted success in the Ladies Bracelet, training the 1993 final winner Amy's Doll.


In Saturday night's other group 3 final, the 720m Wentworth Park Gold Cup, fastest heat winner Prim And Proper and Australia's top stayer Stanley Road are expected to dominate betting.

Prim And Proper began brilliantly from box seven in her all-the-way heat win in 41.98 while Let's See got up in the last stride to edge out Zipping Niseko in 42.12 in the other qualifying race.

Stanley Road was never out of trouble after a slow start in that heat, but had overcome adversity and finished powerfully to win his five previous long distance races over 725m at The Meadows and 720m at Wentworth Park.

Prim And Proper's trainer David Smith said: "I wasn't too surprised she broke 42 in her heat win because she has been getting close to doing that for a few starts now and it was always going to happen if she got a fast track.

"Obviously I'm happy seeing her in box one in the final but in the past Prim And Proper has tended to come out better from wide draws.

"She is still capable of landing a length or two in front and if she does that she'll be hard to catch, although she cannot afford to dwell at box rise.

"If she does that dogs like Stanley Road and even Zipping Niseko could prove too strong for her.''

Best Bet Second Exit (race 6)

Best Value IVY CONNIVING (race 10)

Quaddie 

Race 5 - 6, 4, 3

Race 6 - 7, 2

Race 7 - 1, 4, 8

Race 8 - 7, 1, 4

$20 for 37.03%