Sweet It Is returns to NSW while star sprinter ZIPPING Willow chases yet another win in what should be an exciting night of racing at Wentworth Park on Saturday.
Australia's best stayer makes her Wentworth Park return in the second of two Group 3 Schweppes Summer Cup (720m) heats Fresh from yet another Group success.
Last Friday’s triumph in the $100,000-to-the-winner Group 1 Bold Trease Carnival Cup (715m) at Sandown Park cemented her reputation as one of the sport's current stars.
McDonald said box one was not the ideal draw for Sweet It Is but he still likes her chances.
“The inside box is the only concern,” he said. “She likes it out wide.
“Apart from that, I have no worries with her. She likes the track and it’s a smaller field which won’t hurt her.
“She pulled up well from Saturday and is looking in super condition.”
McDonald is travelling up to Wentworth Park on Saturday morning with Sweet It Is, whose opposition will include handy NSW stayer Dusty Moonshine.
Sweet it Is will likely start at prohibitive odds after last Friday’s breathtaking victory, which saw her come from a seemingly impossible position halfway round to see off a top-class field.
Marty and Fiona Hallinan, the most successful NSW breeders and owners at Wentworth Park, will be chasing their second Schweppes Summer Cup win in four years when ZIPPING-maggie">ZIPPING-maggie">ZIPPING">ZIPPING Maggie tackles heat one.
Trained in Victoria by Peter Dapiran, ZIPPING-maggie">ZIPPING">ZIPPING Maggie was bred and is raced by the Hallinans, whose greyhound ZIPPING Lad took out the 2011 Summer Cup final for NSW trainer Jason Mackay.
ZIPPING-maggie">ZIPPING">ZIPPING Maggie stands out in the first Cup heat with her only serious opposition likely to come from seven-time Wentworth Park winner Pumped Up Zarr, trained at Yass by Neil Staines.
While Pumped Up Zarr clocked his personal best Wentworth Park 720m time of 42.07 in an all the way in last week, ZIPPING-maggie">ZIPPING">ZIPPING Maggie has recorded a blistering 41.78 at the track.
ZIPPING Willow clashes again with Anything Less, gun sprinter Ritza Hattie and Group 1 winner Bessy Boo in what should be an exciting sixth race.
Jason Mackay's sprinter avenged a loss to Anything Less the previous week when collecting a remarkable 31st win from 47 starts here last Saturday night.
Pumped Up Zarr’s trainer Neil Staines is tipped to take out the final of the Macro Meats Gourmet Game Maiden with Country Fox.
Although Country Fox’s time in winning his heat last Sunday was bettered by two of his opponents this week, he is boxed to win the final and was unlucky not to go much faster in his heat.
The dog collided heavily when attempting to get around pacemaker Avenging Gun with the bumping duel costing Country Fox at least three lengths.
Country Fox was unperturbed by the collision and pounced on the lead soon after before careering away to win by eight lengths.
In the final Country Fox should get a dream run courtesy of wide runner ZIPPING Eastwood, a highly talented youngster who has drawn poorly in box three.
While Jack Kade in box one is tipped to make the pace in the Petsnacks Stakes (race 10), Kurmond Goddess should only need an interference-free run in the middle stages to finish too strongly and win.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert tips, click here.
Jeff Collerson's selections:
Best Bet: Country Fox (Race 2)
Best Value: Paddy’s Devil (Race 8)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 2, 1
Race 6 – 6, 8
Race 7 – 6, 3, 4
Race 8 – 7, 1, 8
$20 for 55.55%
