Evil Punk, sidelined since October last year through injury, is on the comeback trail.
A great favourite with the fans, the prolific Group race finalist is back in work and “coming along steadily,’’ according to trainer Jimmy Coyle.
“He is still a couple of months away but I think he will come back okay,’’ Coyle said.
“The dog was ignored by breeders when I retired him to stud and as he does not turn four until September I decided to give him another shot at the track.’’
The son of Collision and Punk Angel, Evil Punk has had 15 wins and 14 seconds from 55 starts but has not raced since saluting over 600m at Dapto almost exactly seven months ago.
In the meantime, his half-sister Funky Punk makes her race debut at Wentworth Park tonight.
Funky Punk, an October, 2013 whelping by Spring Gun from Coyle’s outstanding producer Punk Angel, has box five in heat four of the Ladbrokes Maiden heats.
“Funky Punk has had a look a Wentworth Park and clocked a handy 24.60 in a post to post hand-slip there recently,’’ Coyle said.
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The Joe Sciberras-trained Midnight Enemy started favourite in a NSW St Leger (now the Paws Of Thunder) final four decades ago and tonight her namesake makes his debut at Wentworth Park.
Fittingly the new Midnight Enemy, a black dog by Magic Sprite from Chevy Miss, is owned by Joe Sciberras’ son Gordon and trained by Darren Sultana.
“It has given my father a real buzz to see me with a greyhound carrying the same name as his old favourite,’’ Gordon said.
“Midnight Enemy broke in extremely well but I’m not sure if he will take the next step up.
“He has had a post to post slip around Wentworth Park but has box five in what appears to be one of the strongest of the Ladbrokes Maiden heats."
Midnight Enemy will clash with the well performed pair Avondale As and Aqua Phoenix along with the Melinda Finn-trained Winsome Warrior.
Winsome Warrior led throughout to win a stewards’ trial at Wentworth Park on March 22 in a nippy 30.18, posting initial splits of 5.52 and 13.96.
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Queen Esther went into Saturday night’s Group 3 Evans & Son Jewellers Ladies Bracelet as the winner of 14 Wentworth Park races and over $109,000 prize-money and tonight her half-brother Magic Spring makes his debut at his close relation’s favourite track.
Magic Spring has box three in heat three of the Ladbrokes Maiden and owner-trainer Noelene Holloway, who bred the 20 months old youngster from her brood bitch Fascinate Marina, expects him to make the pace.
“He trialled pretty well over 520m at Wentworth Park and what I really liked about Magic Spring’s run was that he clocked a brilliant first split,’’ Holloway said.
“Considering he was having his first test over 520m, after having three Maitland trials over 400m and 450m, I was really pleased with the way he went.
“I expect him to be improved by the gallop and think he will lead for a long way in the Wenty maiden.’’
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One trainer not perturbed by last Thursday’s transfer of the Maitland meeting to Gosford was Jason MACKAY, whose new acquisition Prince Zesta posted a fastest time of the night 29.62 performance over the NSW Central Coast course’s 515m trip.
“I’ve only had him for three starts and while he was beaten narrowly in smart time at Maitland I think he is better suited on a two turn track like Gosford than on a horseshoe type circuit like Maitland,’’ MACKAY said.
“He handled pressure from another dog in the early stages and coped with being kennelled all night which is something that can upset a young greyhound.’’
