Fabulous Five For Luke

Opus Forte and Wuxi helped complete a memorable few days for Luke Azzopardi at Saturday night's Wentworth Park meeting.

The pair's two triumphs meant Azzopardi scored five winners from five starters at last week's two meetings at the Glebe track.

Azzopardi began with Miss Britt, Wuxi and Opus Forte landing a treble last Wednesday while Wuxi and Opus Forte duplicated those winning ways 72 hours later on Saturday night.

Last Wednesday Opus Forte, a leading contender for next month's Group 1 National Sprint Championship, won in a best of the night 29.53 while on Saturday he came from last to score his eighth Wentworth Park win, this time in a still slick 29.78.

 "I will probably nominate Opus Forte for next Saturday's Wentworth Park meeting," Azzopardi said after his win on Saturday night. "He is a dog who needs plenty of racing.

"The Sprint Championship heats are on at Wenty on Saturday week and you can't afford to take on the best dogs unless you have your greyhound fully race fit.''

Jack Kade will also tackle the National Sprint heats following his defeat of hot favourite Jewel Action in a fourth grade event on Saturday night.

Jewel Action cut out Jack Kade in the run to the first turn but after retaining second spot Jack Kade swept around the hotpot to hit the front on the back straight before winning in 30.00.

"I'll start Jack Kade and his litter brother Let It Develop in the National Sprint heats,'' trainer Jodie Lord said later. "These dogs are no world-beaters but like their litter brother Pierro Kade, they are fantastic chasers with terrific mid-race speed.''

Busy Vintage was Tasmania's only National Sprint Championship winner back in 1984 but Brad Hill Billy, owned by Tasmanian Joe Pringle and trained at FORBES by Ray Smith, looms as a definite 2015 chance.

Brad Hill Billy came from fifth early to take the lead coming to the home bend before defeating Bessy Boo and Knight Sprite in Saturday night's WP Free-For-All.

Brad Hill Billy stopped the clock at 29.65, the fastest time of the night.

That took his Wentworth Park record to four wins and four placings - all from unsuitable wide draws.

"Brad Hill Billy does not have the early speed to lead good dogs but he is very strong," trainer Ray Smith said. "He tends to get a clearer run through the field now.

"That is because he has gone up in grade and the better quality greyhounds are inclined to race more truly.

"When Brad Hill Billy suffered interference in his first few Wentworth Park starts it was mostly due to greyhounds drawn on his inside running off the track at the first turn.''

Trainer Mark Gatt will give More In Store her chance at the big time in Saturday week's heats of the National Distance Championship following her personal best 42.19 win at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

More In Store, who usually comes from midfield in her races, surprised even Gatt by jumping in front and leading all the way.

"Although she won by nine lengths she was getting a bit tired at the finish but that's because she chased so hard and went so fast early,'' Gatt said.

More In Store certainly did the latter, posting 16.09 for the first 280m, time good enough to win most WP sprints.

Gatt landed a double on Saturday night with Ritza Rossi overcoming a severe check going through the catching pen to win a fifth grade in 29.98.

"When he was checked and then zipped into third spot on the back straight I thought to myself that he was going to run a good second to Pedagogy, who was way out in front,'' Gatt said. "But when Ritza Rossi got up to win by a neck I was rapt.

"That was the dog's best performance.''

See you next week!