Zipping Vanessa To Follow On From Remus and Sabrina

By Jeff Collerson
Zipping Remus and Zipping Sabrina were spectacular winners over 520m for John Finn at Wentworth Park on Wednesday and now Zipping Vanessa is set to shine over 720m for the veteran trainer at headquarters on Saturday night.

Zipping Remus led from the first turn to win by two lengths in best of the night time of 29.62 while Zipping Sabrina led throughout for a five lengths' romp in 29.68.

Zipping Vanessa, who has box eight in Saturday's For The Girls Stakes, a 720m fifth grade, made an impressive long-distance debut in scoring by eight lengths in a slick 41.93 at Wentworth Park on May 24.

Then on June 8 then she finished seventh over 600m at Brisbane's Albion Park and John Finn's wife Minnie said: "We were very disappointed with that run.

"That's why I took her back to Wenty on Tuesday night and gave her a 720m trial and thankfully she went really well, so there is nothing amiss with her.

"She had box one when she won her only 720m race at Wentworth Park but box eight on Saturday night looks okay because lately she seems to want to use a bit of the track.''

Fernando Hunter, the greyhound raced by crack jockey Brenton Avdulla, almost died of snake bite just over three months ago.

But the dog has made a remarkable recovery and returns to racing in Saturday night's Evans & Son Jewellers Masters, a top grade 520m veterans' event.

Fernando Hunter, who will be chasing his ninth win in 23 Wentworth Park appearances, is suitably drawn near the fence in box three.

Darryl Thomas, whose partner Michelle Sultana trains Fernando Hunter said: "We nearly lost this dog a couple of months back so it's a miracle he is not only back in action but trialling well again.

"Rest assured Michelle would not be starting him if he was not ready to win and he only has to negotiate the first turn to be hard to beat on Saturday.''

Fernando Hunter winning at Wenty earlier this year


The promising Tarawi Tiger, who has won six of 10 provincial starts for trainer Alan Proctor, makes his Wentworth Park debut in heat two of Saturday's Ladbrokes Mates Mode Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

Tarawi Tiger clocked a sizzling 24.97 winning over 450m at Maitland on May 5 before finishing fifth there a week later.

Trainer Alan Proctor said: "He has not been out of the 520m boxes at Wentworth Park but I gave him a post-to-post slip there and he clocked the fair time of 24.45.

"Tarawi Tiger is not a good beginner but shows very good pace once he hits the ground.

"Box two should be a good draw for him on Saturday night so he gets his chance.''

The great She's A Pearl is once again the headline act on Saturday night and she has drawn nicely in box two in the 520m Ladbrokes Crown Free-For-All.

Seeking her 25th win in 33 Wentworth Park appearances, the Andy Lord-trained bitch won't have things all her own way as up-and-coming youngster Modern Swinger, a winner of eight from 14 Wenty outings, has box one.

Andy Lord trained three winners at Wenty on Wednesday and looks set for another big night on Saturday.

Apart from She's A Pearl, he could win with Nangar Pearl, who has box one in heat two of the Ladbroke It! Stakes and Where's Bonbon in eight in heat three of the Ladbrokes Sports Bar Open Stakes.

Nangar Pearl took a tumble at her only Wentworth Park start on May 17 but had won her previous four starts at Richmond and Dubbo by a total of 15 lengths.

Where's Bonbon has not lived up to her early promise but is well boxed and her personal best WP time of 29.86 is the quickest in Saturday's lineup.

It's ladies' night at Wentworth Park on Saturday with the first 150 women arriving at the track to receive a welcome gift, glasses of sparkling wine on arrival, Mecca gift cards to be won, and live music by Monique Montez.



Best Bet Nangar Pearl (race 2)
Best Value Where's Bonbon (race 3)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 8, 7
Race 6 - 2, 6, 4
Race 7 - 2, 1, 8
Race 8 - 1, 2, 3
$20 for 37.03%