Preview: Wentworth Park Saturday

By Jeff Collerson
Kerry Drynan has lost no time in getting her smart front-runner Lady Divine into a Masters event with her bitch turning four on Monday and lining up in the veterans' class at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

Lady Divine has box two in the Ladbrokes Blackbook Stakes, a first, second and third grades 520m Masters event.

Lady Divine is "desperate" for an inside box and when she drew box two in a fifth grade at Wentworth Park on August 10 she clocked a smart 29.84 in chasing home Jason Magri's smart sprinter Canya Love Me.

Interestingly, Lady Divine's personal best Wenty figures of 29.73 were also posted from box two, back in November, 2022.

"Main reason I rushed her into a Masters was to avoid her being drawn in the same race as her brother Copious, and he has box seven in race seven, a 520m fifth grade,'' Drynan said.

"Lady Divine is going okay and from box two I give her a good chance of being the pacemaker.

"But she could make the race for Father Rick, who has box one and is a very good dog.

"If Lady Divine is out in front he might get a nice sit behind her.''

GRAVITATE has been placed in just three of 10 Wentworth Park races since being purchased by owner-trainer Patricia Chaker from a Queensland owner in June.

But he has had two wins and a placing in four assignments from box one and will wear the red rug in Saturday night's Lakeside Golf Club Camden Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

GRAVITATE has clocked 30.04 for the Wentworth Park 520m trip and Chaker said the dog is going every bit as good now as when he recorded those figures.

"It has taken him a long while to settle into his new surroundings since I bought him,'' Chaker said.

"He gets his chance on Saturday from his good draw, so long as he comes out cleanly.''

What Can Do, whose cost her hobby training owner Craig Benjamin just $1200 as a puppy, will take her earnings to $52,500 if she can win Saturday night's The Sherwood Macarthur Stakes, a 720m fourth and fifth grade.

What Can Do has clocked a slick 42.04 from box one in a Wentworth Park long-distance race but is equally at home in box eight, her draw on Saturday night.

She exited the extreme outside alley when she won over 622m at Richmond in a nippy 35.66 on April 24.

"I think she is well drawn on Saturday night and it looks a winnable race,'' Benjamin said.

"At Gosford on Tuesday night she walked out of the boxes when she finished sixth over 603m, I have never seen her jump so poorly, so I hope she gets away a lot better at Wenty.''

OMEGA JACOB's 29.63 is clearly the fastest 520m Wentworth Park time among the greyhounds in Saturday night's Wests Group Macarthur Stakes, and the JODIE Lord-trained dog has the luxury of drawing box one.

When OMEGA JACOB posted 29.63 in his all-the-way Wentworth Park win on February 28 he began smartly from box eight but crossed quickly to the rails and wasn't headed.

His nine Wentworth Park appearances this year have resulted in a win, three seconds and two thirds, and he is drawn to enhance his record on Saturday night.

When Great Flash last contested a fifth grade at Wentworth Park on July 6 he won in a smart 29.73 and the Minnie Finn-trained dog should relish dropping back to that class on Saturday night.

Great Flash is a wide runner but has the early pace necessary to offset his box three draw in the 520m Country Club Gledswood Stakes.

Great Flash


Best Bet OMEGA JACOB (race 10)
Best Value Lady Divine (race 5)

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