Everyone Goes Faster In Red

By Jeff Collerson
Major Ando has won his past two Wentworth Park races in fair times despite drawing wide and is expected to go much quicker after coming up with box one on Saturday night.

The Luke Azzopardi-trained dog will wear the red rug in the Ladbrokes Same Race Multi Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, after exiting box eight and coming from behind to win by three lengths in 30.29 at Wentworth Park on Wednesday.

At his previous Wentworth Park appearance Major Ando drew box six and was from third early before winning in 30.35.

"His win on Wednesday was a terrific effort because he copped a big whack on the first corner but just kept on going,'' trainer Luke Azzopardi said.

"I'm rapt in how good Major Ando is going, especially as he is not two years old.''


Azzopardi's son Peter won on Wednesday at Wentworth Park with Ollie Impact who has box six in Saturday night's fourth event, a 520m fifth grade.

Ollie Impact has taken a liking to Wentworth Park and his past six starts there have yielded two wins and four placings.

The dog had box two when he clocked his personal best Wenty time of 29.87 on March 22 before drawing box six coming from third on the back straight to win in 30.16 on Wednesday.

"On Wednesday Ollie Impact got held up when going for a rails’ run on the back straight but then had a bit of luck when he secured the inside after the leaders collided coming to the home turn,'' Luke Azzopardi said.


Fascinate Trump looks Ollie Impact's toughest opponent on Saturday with the Noelene Holloway-trained speedster in box two. 

Fascinate Trump led throughout from that draw at The Gardens last Saturday, covering the 515m in a slick 29.57.

"He has been missing the kick in a lot of his Wenty races and been forced to use up a lot of petrol early,'' Noelene Holloway said.

"But if Fascinate Trump gets away cleanly like he did at The Gardens he should be hard to beat.''

Fascinate Trump's litter sister and kennelmate Fascinate Mel returns to Wentworth Park on Saturday following a setback, drawing box one in the top grade Ladbrokes Sports Bar Stakes, 520m.

Fascinate Mel led all the way to win a heat of the group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park on March 25 , clocking a fast 29.65.

But she had to be scratched from her Easter Egg semi-final after jumping up in her kennel and hurting a foot.

Noelene Holloway said: "She has not raced or trialled since March 25 but she will be ready for Saturday and she loves box one.

"Experience has taught me that Fascinate Mel goes best when allowed to run around at home between races, she keeps herself fit.''

Fascinate Mel will need to do everything right as Mortified, who clocked faster time than the Easter Egg semi-final and final winners in her April 1 and 8 Wentworth Park wins, will oppose her from box five.


Blake Moroney, who trained now retired crowd favourite Jabeni, is back at Wentworth Park on Saturday with the promising Tricky Toodles, who has box two in race 11, a 520m fifth grade.

Tricky Toodles has won five of 17 provincial outings and knows her way around Wentworth Park.

"I gave her a trial there last Tuesday night and she went as well as I expected her to go,'' Moroney said.

"But she really wants the middle or outside of the track so although she won from box two at The Gardens on April 1, I would have preferred to see her drawn wide.''

Aston Ulysses, one of the early fancies for the $100,000 to the winner Masters Meteor at Wentworth Park in October, resumes from box one in Saturday's 520m top grade Masters event.

Aston Ulysse who has won has won five of his past six starts, has not raced since early February but is reported to "flying" for trainer Michelle Sultana.

Best Bet Aston Ulysses (race 6)

Best Value Fascinate Trump (race 4)

Quaddie race 5 - 1, 4, 8

Race 6 - 1, 2

Race 7 - 5, 1, 3

Race 8 - 2, 6, 8

$20 for 37.03%