Blue Boy Looks Good In Pink

By Jeff Collerson
Blue Boy Kade was beaten six lengths into sixth place when a $2 favourite at Wentworth Park last Wednesday night but has the draw and class to make amends in Wednesday night's final event, a 520m fifth grade Battlers Stakes.

Last week the Jason Magri-trained Blue Boy Kade bungled the start from box four but was going fast out wide at the first turn when he was badly checked, losing all chance. 

Blue Boy Kade had raced in the middle of the track and recorded a slick 29.98 winning his maiden race from box three at Wentworth Park in November so seems ideally positioned in box eight on Wednesday.

Mister O'Brien took 30.65 to win his maiden event at Wentworth Park last Wednesday night but is capable of going much quicker according to owner-trainer Glen Bryen. 

Mister O'Brien has box three in this Wednesday's second event, a 520m fifth grade, after drawing poorly in boxes eight and six in each of four previous starts.

"Before his first start on February 1 Mister O'Brien had trialled 30.20 at Wenty and run home in 11.80,'' Bryen said. 

"That's why he was a heavily backed $2 favourite in his first outing. 

"But I am really happy to see him finally drawn close to the rails this week.'' 

Bryen, who has had his trainer's licence for less than four months, drove pacers before becoming involved in greyhound racing. 

"Mister O'Brien's mother China O'Brien won over 720m at Wentworth Park in 42.12 and I often handled her on behalf of her trainer,'' Bryen said. 

"I was determined to buy one of her puppies when she whelped a litter to Fernando Bale in April, 2021, and Mister O'Brien is that pup. 

"If he happened to find the lead by the first turn on Wednesday night Mister O'Brien is capable of running very smart time. 

"And I think he will develop into a good middle or long distance greyhound.''

Mister O'Brien's main worry on Wednesday could be the presence in box two of To The Beat, who showed pace and raced wide from box one when fifth at his Wentworth Park debut last week. 

When trainer Harry Sarkis perused the box draw for Wednesday night at Wentworth Park and saw his bitch Lucy The Weapon in box eight he exclaimed "Thank heavens for that!'' 

Lucy The Weapon will wear the pink rug in race three, a 520m fifth grade, after finishing third to Max Rocha and Jai Cool Guy in a tougher class five event at headquarters last Saturday night. 

Sarkis said: "Lucy The Weapon had box two on Saturday but she is a wide runner who is desperate for an outside box. 

"Because she drew inside I wasn't confident about her chances last Saturday but she ran a great race. 

"If another dog had not shouldered her out of the way near the home turn she might have won. 

"Lucy The Weapon had a couple of 603m races at Gosford in February but I did that to help her get to the line more strongly in 520m events at Wentworth Park.''

Lucy The Weapon winning at Richmond in January

Sandstorm Rico, who was runner-up to Simply Limelight in a heat of the Queensland Derby at Albion Park on December 29, makes his Wentworth Park debut for trainer Joe McFadyen in race seven, a 520m fourth and fifth grade.

Richmond Oaks finalist Fahey's Magic will be all the rage for this event but Sandstorm Rico also represents class as he came from fourth at the half-way mark when beaten four lengths by Simply Limelight, who has won 15 races at Wentworth Park. 

Best Bet Blue Boy Kade (race 10)
Best Value Mister O'Brien (race 2) 

Quaddie
Race 5 - 3, 2, 5
Race 6 - 7, 3, 2
Race 7 - 8, 5
Race 8 - 3, 7, 1
$20 for 37.03%