Seventh Heaven For Rose

By Jeff Collerson
Isle Of Rose, having only her ninth race, set the time standard of 29.82 at Wentworth Park on Saturday night while notching her seventh win.

Owner-trainer Troy Macdonald's exciting 25-month-old speedster came from third early to hit the front on the back straight and then raced away to win by more than four lengths.

Blue Moves ran the race of her life to finish second, with favourite Shanghai Suzie, who made the pace for the first 250m, three lengths away third.

Isle Of Rose had won in 29.70 from box one at Wentworth Park at her previous start on October 14, after running wide on the first turn.

After Saturday's race trainer Troy Macdonald said: "She is getting better with experience.

"Isle Of Rose is probably better off drawn wide although I don't think I would want to see her drawn further out than box six, the draw she had tonight.

"What impresses me about her is how she is able to take the bends at top speed.''


Molly's On Fire re-affirmed her liking for Wentworth Park when she took her tally at headquarters to two wins and three seconds from eight appearances on Saturday night.

Molly's On Fire trailed the pacemaker Venus Banner to the home turn before storming home to win by more than three lengths in 30.17.

Trainer Andrew Bell said later: "I have been spacing her racing here to try and maximise her grading wins on out-of-town tracks.

"I have been concerned that if she won another race at Wenty she would be fourth grade everywhere.

"But I'll have to forget that idea because Molly's On Fire goes so well at Wentworth Park, she just loves the place and goes better here than any other track.''


Charisma Girl, another greyhound partial to Wentworth Park, scored her fourth win at the track in Saturday's opening event, finishing powerfully to win easily in 30.19.

Charisma Girl jumped in front from box two but was beaten for pace and relegated to third in the middle stages before running down tearaway leader Kid Laz.

Trainer Denice Warren said later: "Charisma Girl just lacks a bit of early speed and is probably better suited over longer than 520m.

"She is at her best over around 600m so I will concentrate mainly on middle distance races with her, although whether she can get 720m remains to be seen.''

Mortified, the $1.75 favourite, gave her supporters plenty of anxious moments before storming home to win Saturday's top grade 520m race at Wentworth Park.

Starline Express sped away to a massive early lead while Mortified bungled the start before railing into fourth position at the first turn.

Starline Express still held a commanding lead coming to the home bend but by then Mortified had surged into second position and she ran over the top of the pacemaker to win by nearly a length in 29.86.

Mortified's win took her Wentworth Park strike rate to an impressive 12 victories for 23 appearances.


Reg Gardoll, trainer of Starline Express, commented: "I said before the race I would be astounded if he didn't lead but he is just not strong at the end of 520m.''