Anjo Tornado Due For First City Win

By Jeff Collerson
Anjo Tornado has broken the 30sec barrier four times at Wentworth Park so is long overdue to notch his first city win on Saturday night.

The John Grief-trained greyhound has box two in the wentworthpark.com.au Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, and will be coming off a close second in the best time of the night at headquarters last Saturday.

Anjo Tornado lost at least a length when he veered wide on the first corner before rattling home to be beaten three-quarters of a length by Quantifiable in a flying 29.81.

John Grief said: "My dog is normally a good railer but for some reason he ducked off the track at the first turn last week and it possibly cost him the race.

"He ran 29.87 getting beaten after having clocked 29.90 on three successive trial nights at Wenty.

"If he repeats last week's time he should win on Saturday night.

"I also have his litter brother Anjo Typhoon in Saturday's opening event, the Welcome Stakes, and while he is not as quick as Anjo Tornado he has ability and looks to be in a suitable race.

"Anjo Typhoon is well drawn in box two and although this will be his first race at Wenty he has had a few trials there so knows his way around the track.''

Balinese Blue recorded a respectable 30.21 when second from an unsuitable box six draw at Wentworth Park on July 5 and could give trainer Chris Brennen his first Wenty winner on Saturday night.

Balinese Blue has box two in the Ladbrokes Sports Bar Open Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, and Brennen is delighted with the draw.

"In his three races beyond 401m he drew box eight when second over 472m at Bulli before finishing second from box six over 520m at Wentworth Park and then had box five when fifth in a harder 520m race there last Saturday night,'' Chris Brennen said.

"When Balinese Blue finished second at Wentworth Park he was the first starter I had ever had at the track.

"I trained dogs from 2008 to 2016 before having a break when I started a family and got back into the game late last year.

"I have had a lot of fun with Balinese Blue because I was able to buy him for only $5000.

"He was trained by Peter Lagogiane and when I bought him Peter warned me there was a good chance the dog would never run out a strong 520m.

"That is probably still the case but Balinese Blue seems to be gaining a bit more stamina and he has good early pace so for such a cheap dog he has been a great purchase.''

Saturday's Wentworth Park card includes an appealing top grade 720m event, the Ladbrokes Same Race Multi Stakes, with the Andy Lord-trained trio Cawbourne Magic, Punter's Bandit and Tiger Jack opposing Ritza Piper and Zipping Vanessa.

John Finn's up-and-coming stayer Zipping Vanessa has won three of her four Wentworth Park 720m assignments and goes into Saturday's race chasing her fifth successive win.

While she had box one when she recorded her personal best 41.81 at her most recent outing, Zipping Vanessa showed she can handle box seven - her draw on Saturday - by wearing the black rug to an easy victory in a slick 42.08 on June 21.

Her kennelmate Zipping Khan finished down the course when second favourite at Wentworth Park on Wednesday but is worth another chance after drawing well in Saturday's Ladbroke It! Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

On Wednesday Zipping Khan, a noted wide runner, had box three and speared off the track at the first turn.

Stewards reported Zipping Khan checked off heels before running off the track and had collided on three occasions during the race.

In three previous Wentworth Park outings Zipping Khan had recorded a win and two seconds despite running wide from inside boxes.

Zipping Khan winning at Wentworth Park 12.7.23


Best Bet Anjo Tornado (race 10)
Best Value Balinese Blue (race 4)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 7, 2
Race 6 - 1, 5, 4
Race 7 - 4, 8, 2
Race 8 - 8, 3, 1
$20 for 37.03%