Cartier Heading Out In A Blaze Of Glory

By Jeff Collerson
Crack stayer Blazing Cartier is tonight set to begin her final racing campaign with a win when she contests race four, a 720m non-graded event.

Blazing Cartier goes into the event boasting the fastest Wentworth Park time of 42.16 and is far away the class runner of the field, with 19 wins and nearly $166,000 prizemoney.

"She has not raced this month and Robbie Britton, who trained her for me in Melbourne, has kept her nice and fresh since her most recent outing on May 27,'' owner-trainer Tom Rees said.

"Blazing Cartier will be retired to stud as soon as she comes in season but she is so fit and well I have decided to keep racing her until that happens.

"When she has previously been freshened up and sent back to Sydney Blazing Cartier has always gone well and this race looks winnable for her.

"She has been bouncing around at home so looks ready to go.''


Rees believes he could win a double as he has a big opinion of Wentworth Park newcomer Alice Unchained, who has box three in race two, a 520m fifth grade.

"Alice Unchained has had only three provincial races for a win and two placings but I trialled her after the last race at Wenty last Saturday and she went enormous,'' Rees said.

Hardest for Alice Unchained to beat look to be Silent Enemy and Aston Barak, who have drawn boxes one and two respectively.

Silent Enemy led until near the winning post when beaten a half head by hot favourite Jonah Byrde in a handy 30.07 last Wednesday at her first 520m test.

She is expected to be improved by that experience.

Trainer Kerry Drynan is hoping for a fast track for her bitch Star Is Born, who has box one in race five, a 520m fifth grade.

Star Is Born had her first Wentworth Park outing last Wednesday and after setting up a big early lead from box five, faded in the straight to win by a half head in a moderate 30.56.

"She is ideally boxed in the one this week but she is not strong so how she goes depends on whether the track is fast or soft and which dogs get the sit behind her,'' Drynan said.

"I educated Star Is Born at Wenty when she was a baby so she knew her way around the track last week.

"Only reason her first race there was delayed was that she dropped a back muscle early in her career.''


Cruiser Model was sent out favourite despite having a poor draw at Wentworth Park last Wednesday and she was badly checked at the first turn, losing all chance.

"She had box five last week and there was a lot of early speed around her,'' trainer Jodie Lord said.

"Although she has box five again there does not appear to be so much early pace among the dogs drawn around her and I expect her to win.''

Lord, the form trainer of the Sydney premiership, has bright hopes of winning a double with the consistent One Smart One to exit box eight in race seven, a 520m fifth grade.

One Smart One has had four starts at Wentworth Park for two wins, a second and a third, and was run down and beaten less than a length by kennelmate Sarita at headquarters last week.

"One Smart One can handle any box because he is a pretty smart beginner and is a good little chaser,'' Lord said.

"So I expect him to run well again this week.''

Best Bet Cruiser Model (race 6)

Best Value Silent Enemy (race 2)

Quaddie race 5 - 1, 3

Race 6 - 5, 2

Race 7 - 8, 3, 4

Race 8 - 8, 3, 6

$20 for 55.55%