Mr. Peregrine To Make Amends

By Jeff Collerson
Mr. Peregrine was backed from $1.50 to $1.15 when a luckless second at Richmond last week but if his supporters are prepared to take short odds again the dog should make amends there on Wednesday night.

Mr. Peregrine had box seven when runner-up to the talented Brooklyn Brute last Wednesday but moves to box one for Wednesday's Steeline Riverstone 1-3 Wins fifth grade over 520m.

With a personal best Richmond 520m time of 29.42 - posted from box five - Mr. Peregrine has "a minute" on his rivals.

John Carruthers, whose wife Jane trains Mr. Peregrine, said: "Our dog can run good sections but his box manners are his problem.

"Because of that he is always going to need a little bit of luck and from box one he should get it on Wednesday.''

Last week Mr. Peregrine dwelt at the start but was hampered while attempting to reach the rails and did well to get to just over four lengths from the winner.

Although he goes into Wednesday's race boasting an impressive record of three wins and two seconds from six starts, Mr Peregrine isn't about to tackle city class at Wentworth Park.

John Carruthers said: "We're in no hurry to get him there.''

Zipping Clampett, a litter brother and kennelmate of Ladbrokes Magic Maiden winner Zipping Mario, could make a successful transition to middle-distance racing at Richmond on Wednesday night.

Trained by Sam Sultana, who prepared Zipping Mario for his Magic Maiden win at Wentworth Park, Zipping Clampett will exit box one in heat two of the GRNSW Middle Dstance Series over 622m.


He was a distant sixth from box eight in a Richmond 520m fifth grade last week but should relish both the additional distance on Wednesday night and the rails draw.

Each of Zipping Clampett's two wins, both at Richmond, have been from box one and he clocked a smart 29.80 winning over 520m on April 17.


But the dog's lack of early speed and ability to finish strongly over 520m has prompted his experienced trainer Sam Sultana to step the dog up in distance on Wednesday night.

Also tackling a middle distance for the first time on Wednesday is Unique Sunrise, who has box two in heat one of the GRNSW Middle Distance Series.

After Unique Sunrise finished powerfully to win over 520m at Wentworth Park on February 24, trainer Wayne Sugar declared: "His future will be over longer journeys.''

Sugars is happy seeing his dog in box two on Wednesday and expects him to run well.

"Since his Wentworth Park win I've been keen to get Unique Sunrise over a bit of ground but he had a few setbacks which prevented that happening.

"Then he was eligible for the Nowra Puppy Classic so I thought I'd give him his shot at that and he finished fourth in his heat on April 21.

"His run was better than it looks as another dog fell back into his lap when he was making a run.

"Unique Sunrise has been crying out for a middle distance and he had a good hit-out up the straight at Appin on Monday so is ready to go.

"He is not a good beginner but sometimes ordinary box dogs can get away better from a bend start like they have over 622m at Richmond.''

King Of Tulsa will be chasing his fourth successive Richmond 622m win when he exits box two in Wednesday night's non graded GRNSW Middle Distance Series and is likely to be sent out an odds-on favourite.

King Of Tulsa is well drawn in box two and recorded a personal best 35.60 when he completed his hat-trick of Richmond 622m wins last week.

But Off The Richter is suitably positioned in box seven and is likely to provide stiff opposition to the favourite.

Off The Richter failed from a less suitable box three draw at his sole Richmond 622m attempt but was runner-up in the star-studded 660m final of The Clarence at Grafton on February 25.

Off The Richter had been so impressive in his lead-up races to that final he was sent out a raging hot $1.65 favourite but bungled the start and finished second to Scintillate.

Best Bet Mr. Peregrine (race 7)
Best Value Off The Richter (race 3)

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