Wild Sylvia To Find The Lead From Two

By Jeff Collerson
Wild Sylvia was sent out a $3.80 second favourite when third from box seven at Wentworth Park on April 26 but trainer Peter Lagogiane believes she will be much better suited after drawing box two there on Saturday night.

Wild Sylvia | Photo: Steve Whalland


Wild Sylvia will contest the Ladbrokes Odds Surge Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, and is chasing her fifth win in 10 starts.

On April 26 she began only fairly from her wide draw and found trouble before finishing third to Rhyno's Magic, beaten just over three lengths.

"From box two on Saturday she should have a good chance of finding the early lead,'' Lagogiane said.

"We're hoping she is capable of running around 29.90 for the 520m and if she can do that it might be good enough to win this race.''

Trainer Michelle Sultana has strong prospects of landing a double on Saturday night, with Fear The Dragon in box eight in the fourth and fifth grade Ladbrokes Sports Bar Stakes, 520m, and Fernando Rocker drawn in four in the 520m fifth grade GBOTA Welcome Stakes.

Fear The Dragon's last Wentworth Park outing was when he finished second to Good Odds Cobber in the rich Simply Limelight New Sensation final on April 13.

He jumped smartly from box two but lost his prominent position by running off at the first turn, coming from third going through the pen to be runner-up, less than four lengths from the winner.

Saturday night's race is easier and Fear The Dragon proved his fitness with a fast 25.07 win over 450m at Maitland from box eight on May 2.

"My partner Darryl Thomas likes Fear The Dragon's draw on Saturday night,'' Michelle Sultana said.

"Fear The Dragon takes one or two steps before he hits top gear so hopefully he can begin okay on Saturday and get across.

"For ability there is nothing between him and Fernando Rocker, my runner in race one.

"Fernando Rocket has box four but he can begin smartly when he wants to and can run some very quick times in trials.

"Unfortunately Fernando Rocker doesn't always reproduce his trial form in races.''

Sam Sultana, Michelle's father, could also train two winners at Wentworth Park on Saturday.

He has Au Contraire in box five in the Ladbroke It! Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, and up-and-coming type Zipping Kimble in two in the Sponsor A Race At Wenty 520m fifth grade.

Au Contraire, who has had three wins and three seconds from her past nine Wentworth Park races, is a fairly reliable beginner and while Zipping Kimble bombed the start when an unplaced $1.20 favourite at headquarters on April 19, he landed in front before winning at Bulli on Tuesday.

Saturday's sole 720m event, the Puppy Catalogue Stakes fifth grade, is an intriguing affair.

Check The Radar, who broke the Richmond 722m record three starts back, clashes with Radical Tom, who overcame trouble to land a betting plunge at his Wentworth Park debut last Saturday.

Radical Tom was backed "off the map" after posting a sub 42sec 720m trial at Wentworth Park and showed great tenacity to win in 42.23.

He was badly hampered trying to reach the rails from box eight and has drawn four this week.

Trainer Vic Ellul said: "We might go from hero to zero in this stronger field.

"But I believe Radical Tom will be better prepared this week, I have had him in my kennels a bit longer and got to know him better.

"If he can come out with them and find a position he should give a good account of himself.

"My Lucy Rose, who set up a big early lead last week, has box one so should make the pace again, and Check The Radar is going to be hard to beat.''

Nangar Archie will be an outsider in Saturday's www.GBOTA.cm.au Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, but could set the pace after drawing ideally in box one.

Ricky Brewer, whose wife Caitrlyn trains the consistent sprinter, said: "We think Nangar Archie will lead but this is a hot fifth grade and they might run him down.

"Nangar Archie had box eight when he was unplaced at Wentworth Park last week but he missed the jump a bit and crashed left, bouncing into the dog in box seven, and that was the end of his chances.

"If he comes out like he can he has a good chance of leading this Saturday.''

Best Bet Au Contraire (race 2)
Best Value Fear The Dragon (race 3)

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