King Of Tulsa Drawn To Win

By Jeff Collerson
King Of Tulsa is just 21 months old but is set to confirm his ranking as among the hottest prospects in training by scoring his first Wentworth Park win on Wednesday night.

The Mark Farrugia-trained youngster was a luckless fourth at his Wentworth Park debut from box seven on July 15 before being a certainty beaten from box five when second last Wednesday, beaten less than a length in 30.19, by the talented Oscar Boaz.

King Of Tulsa posted a flying 26.16 winning over 472m at Bulli on June 13 and has produced eye-catching performances in each of his two races over 520m.

This week he has box two in the Where Else But Wenty? Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, and is drawn to win.

King Of Tulsa has been so impressive that a group one winning trainer revealed he had offered $50,000 for the dog but had his massive bid refused.

Coco Creek has been unplaced in each of his two Wentworth Park appearances but is set to put this right by winning Wednesday night's Farrell's 4x2 Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

Coco Creek has had no luck in finishing fourth from box five and sixth from box seven in his previous Wenty outings so trainer John Thomas is understandably delighted to see him in box one on Wednesday.

"He is a good dog but is not endowed with brilliant early speed and tends to be a bit clumsy,'' Thomas said.

"But Coco Creek is a fast 29.40 dog over the LADBROKES GARDENS 515m trip and box one will suit him because he rails well and gets home strongly.

"His best time will be from when he enters the catching pen until he reaches the winning post.''

Four promising juveniles She's A Star (box one), Charlee's Dream (box two), Ritza Natalie (box three) and He's A Paymaster (box six) will do battle in Wednesday's Ladbrokes Sports Bar Open Stakes, another 520m fifth grade.

While each has abundant ability, the draw favours She's A Star, who clocked a sizzling 22.33 winning over 400m at Bulli from box one on June 27 before being an unlucky second from box seven over the same course on July 4.

Trainer Wayne Meilak said: "She's A Star has not been tried over 520m but I'm fairly confident she will run the distance and box one is definitely a bonus.

"She has not raced at Wenty but knows her way around the track because I have given her a couple of trials over shorter distances there.''

At 26 months of age Hit Top Gear is young for a stayer but from box one she gets her chance to land her first Wentworth Park win in Wednesday's Sponsor A Race Stakes, a 720m fifth grade.

Hit Top Gear was beaten less than a length second, from box four, to Brockie's Girl in 42.54 at Wentworth Park last Wednesday and trainer Dale Wright believes she has plenty of potential.

"I expect to see the best of her over the next few months,'' Wright said.

"Hit Top Gear didn't have any luck when sixth to Zipping Vanessa in what was almost a group class 720m race at Wentworth Park on July 12 before her good second there last week.

"Over 515m at LADBROKES GARDENS Hit Top Gear can clock nippy times like 29.60 and 29.70 but she finds it hard to win races over that journey because her first section lets her down.

"That's why I have stepped her up in distance and I'm so glad to have drawn an inside box with her on Wednesday.''


Hit Top Gear winning at LADBROKES GARDENS

In Wednesday's top grade race, the Ladbrokes Switch Free-For-All, Simply Limelight looks poised to record his 20th win over the Wentworth Park 520m journey.

Peter Rodgers' Golden Easter Egg winner only narrowly defeated Fernando Hunter and Zipping Sabrina when he notched his 19th success at Wentworth Park last Wednesday but meets weaker opposition this week.

Best Bet King Of Tulsa (race 9)
Best Value Coco Creek (race 4)

Quaddie
Race 5 - 1, 7, 2
Race 6 - 1, 5, 4
Race 7 - 7, 3, 8
Race 8 - 3, 4
$20 for 37.03%