Age Not Slowly Down Jabeni

By Jeff Collerson
Jabeni scored his 22nd win at his 93rd start on October 25 at Gosford and trainer Blake Moroney considers that was the best performance of his dog's career.

That is a good pointer to Jabeni's prospects in Saturday night's Ladbroke It! Masters Stakes over 520m at Wentworth Park.

Jabeni has box four but Moroney is quietly confident, even though his grand campaigner has won just once in 15 appearances wearing the blue rug.

"There looks to be a bit of early speed in Saturday's race and that usually works in Jabeni's favour,'' Moroney said.

"When they go quick early the field tends to open up and when that happens Jabeni gets room to move.

"The small field of six is also a bonus for Jabeni because of the way he races.

"He turned four on July 8 but has been going great and when he won over 603m at Gosford at his most recent start I reckon he produced the best run of his career.

"Jabeni was up against a hot field but defeated Showman Jack and Impress Shades and a couple of other very smart greyhounds.''


Canya Wilder, runner-up to Gatlin in the group 1 Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park, is set to have an exciting duel with up-and-coming sprinter Fast Reason in Saturday's Vale Ronald White Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

In the Vic Peters Canya Wilder drew box two and chased Gatlin, who exited box one, from start to finish, going under by less than a length.

Canya Wilder has won four of his past five starts for trainer John Thomas while the Jorja-Louise Howard-trained Fast Reason stunned Wenty fans by toppling champion bitch She's A Pearl at Wentworth Park on October 26.

On Saturday the draw favours Canya Wilder, who has box one, while Fast Reason will jump from box four.

Canya Wilder's trainer John Thomas said: "My dog has never been fitter than he is right now.

"Box one suits him because he is such a brilliant railer, he will take all the inside runs.

"Forget his sixth at Wentworth Park from box eight last week as he had no luck.

"Fast Reason is a good young dog and if he happened to jump in front we might have our work cut out beating him.

"But Canya Wilder did give him a fair start before running him down and beating him by a head at The Gardens on October 21.''


Hottest favourite on Saturday night is likely to be Jack Smith's "flying flea" Red Hot Frankie, who weighed in at a whippet-like 23.6kg before running her rivals off their legs at Wentworth Park last Saturday night.

Red Hot Frankie has box one in the winningedgeinvestments.com.au Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, and bas a winner of four from eight Wentworth Park appearances looks well placed in this class.

She had box one last week when she led throughout in a slick 29.64, her personal best Wentworth Park figures, and will wear the red rug again.

Red Hot Frankie, close to a foolproof beginner, should get an unimpeded run to the first turn as That'll Do Neo (box two) possesses only fair early speed while Falcon Fly (box three) is a wide runner.

Best Bet Red Hot Frankie (race 2)

Best Value Jabeni (race 10)

Quaddie race 5 - 6, 2

Race 6 - 7, 2, 8

Race 7 - 1, 2, 3

Race 8 - 6, 1, 2

$20 for 37.03%