It’s a massive step up from a 4/5 grade at Wentworth Park to the Group 1 Australian Cup but trainer Justin King believes Flaming Frenzy will prove up to the task starting on Friday night.
Flaming Frenzy has box seven in a heat of Friday’s Sportingbet Sprint Series when she will be having her second start after a five month injury-enforced layoff.
She resumed at Wentworth Park last Saturday night and made the pace until near the home bend before finishing second in Zippy Chicki’s free-for-all in a slick 29.76.
Flaming Frenzy posted brilliant early splits last week and Justin was thrilled with her run.
"She had slipped well but I was a bit concerned that she might be one run short of running really fast time for 520m," he said.
"But I’m more than happy with her now, she has worked really well this week and box seven suits her, she loves being drawn out there.
"Flaming Frenzy has taken to Wentworth Park where she has clocked 29.67.
"If she goes as well as I expect her to tonight and at Wenty next week I plan on starting her in the heats of the Australian Cup at The Meadows on February 22."
Trainer Mark Arncliffe believes his wonderful four-year-old campaigner Teddie Boy has a golden opportunity to notch his fourth Wentworth Park win in another Sportingbet Sprint Series heat on Friday night.
Teddie Boy will be having his 96th race and his 61st Wentworth Park outing but while he has won only three races at headquarters the dog has rung up 12 seconds and 16 thirds at the track on the way to earning over $39,000 prizemoney.
"He has been a marvellous old dog and is going as well as ever," Mark said.
"He certainly gets his chance on Friday after drawing close to the rails in box two.
"If I had 20 greyhounds like him I’d be flying.
"Fortunately Teddie Boy always pulls up well after a race and is extremely sound.
"He is no world-beater but just keeps plodding along and after his second behind Jay Bee Rock last week he has had his usual preparation, just free galloping at home."
Last Friday Teddie Boy led at the first turn but was hampered and relegated to second spot on the back straight before regaining the lead on the home bend and fading in the straight.
No dog is more deserving of another city win than this tough competitor and he gets his chance on Friday as Bluza Brewin (box one) lacks early pace so should give Teddie Boy a clear run to the first corner.
Brooklyn Drive and Retiring should relish drops in grade by winning their heats of the Sportingbet series on Friday night.
Brooklyn Drive, who has box five in her 4/5 grade event, has been placed in free-for-all class at her past three Wentworth Park starts.
And before that she had beaten Greyhound of the Year finalist Double Twist in top grade on January 4.
Retiring has not won in three starts from box one but seems drawn to get the run of the race in his heat.
Retiring chased Premier Mozz all-the-way at his most recent Wentworth Park start in a fourth grade event on January 18, but had won against similar class to Friday night’s line-up on January 3.
That night Retiring surprised even trainer Jim White by railing well going through the catching pen and the dog only has to display similar tractability to lead from that point in Friday’s race.
Best Bet: Brooklyn Drive (Race one)
Best Value: Teddie Boy (Race six)
Quaddie race 5 – 3, 1, 8
Race 6 – 2, 3, 5
Race 7 – 4, 8, 5
Race 8 – 1, 3
$20 for 37.03%
