ZIPPING Ronaldo had box eight when he won his heat in smart time but looks far better suited in box one in Wednesday night's $8,000 to the winner final of the GRNSW Middle Distance Series at Richmond.
ZIPPING Ronaldo was having his first middle distance test when he won his heat in a slick 35.76, while the fastest qualifier was Charlee's Tommy, also having his initial 622m race, who led all the way in 35.58.
Charlee's Tommy is owned and trained by Minnie Finn's daughter-in-law Courtney Barnes, and after winning his heat from box three looks well positioned in box two on Wednesday night.
But Finn said: "Charlee's Tommy runs pretty straight so he shouldn't interfere with ZIPPING Ronaldo.''
Finn has also drawn box one at Richmond with ZIPPING Swift in the Flying Ricciardo At Stud Stakes and with Gets Late Early in a heat of the Ladbrokes 1-3 Wins Stakes.
Finn said: "Marty (owner Martin Hallinan) had an offer of $5,000 for ZIPPING Swift after her unplaced run at Wenty.
"I told him she was worth a lot more than that and if he wanted to sell her I would give him $5,000 for the bitch.''
So Marty Hallinan didn't sell and ZIPPING Swift has since earned $6,000 in three races.
ZIPPING Swift is well drawn on Wednesday but will need to do everything right to beat the Barry Gibbons-trained Luai Banner, who has box four.
Luai Banner met with severe interference on the home turn when seventh in a Bulli 472m race on November 14 after being placed in three shorter races there and at Richmond.
The step up to 520m on Wednesday night will suit Luai Banner who won at his only start over that distance at Richmond and also scored in good time over 520m at Wentworth Park early in his career.
Minnie Finn's sister Patricia Chaker trains Zeroed In and Farmor Order, the two form greyhounds in Wednesday's Happy 50th Birthday Allan Stakes, a 520m fourth and fifth grade.
Zeroed In has box one while Farmor Order has drawn eight.
Both have good Richmond form and while each has won 26 percent of their races, Chaker believes Zeroed In is her better chance.
"Farmor Order can run like the wind but he has a mind of his own while Zeroed In is more reliable, although they are both well boxed,'' Chaker said.
Zeroed In
Chaker also has a high opinion of Dazzling Gunn, a new addition to her kennel, who makes her NSW debut in Wednesday's Flying Ricciardo At Stud Stakes.
Dazzling Gunn has won four of 14 starts in Queensland and Chaker said: "She is going really well since I have had her but box eight will be a big hurdle because she badly wants an inside draw.''
(To watch Dazzling Gunn winning at Ipswich earlier this year, click Ipswich/2023-08-22/7/m-k-butchers-4-5-grade-h?trial=false">here.)
Wednesday's best value bet should be Eye Roll Sloy, who has box one in the Bistro Open For Dinner Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Eye Roll Sloy has been placed in three of her four starts wearing the red rug and should find Wednesday's assignment easier than her third placing at Richmond a week ago.
From box four Eye Roll Sloy displayed her customary early speed to lead at the first turn before finishing third behind Scorching Boy, a finalist in the Wagga and Goulburn Cups, and Lady Divine, a winner of eight races at Wentworth Park.
