Ties Looking For More Luck This Time

By Jeff Collerson
Ties That Bind's only defeat in five Wentworth Park appearances was a luckless third in a group one Ladbrokes National Futurity heat last Friday and it seems only more ill fortune can prevent her enhancing her record on Wednesday night.

The Frank Hurst-trained speedster has box four in race 10, a 520m fourth grade, and with box five vacant she should find enough room to move in the charge to the first turn to dash clear of her rivals.

On the clock Ties That Bind has improved with each Wentworth Park win, trimming her times from an initial success in 30.22, then recording 30.19, 29.99 and on December 12 posting 29.83.

Last Friday she began cleanly from box two but was "sandwiched" between the greyhounds drawn in one and three and was checked going into the first turn.

Ties That Bind produced a game performance to finish third, beaten just over six lengths by the winner, Chic, who stopped the clock at 29.77.


Hurst could land a winning double as Ties That Bind's litter sister Good Odds Emma is tipped to make a winning Wentworth Park debut in race four, the Incapacitated At Stud Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

Good Odds Emma has had two wins and two seconds from just four races, over 400m at Richmond and Bulli, and gives the impression she will handle her box seven draw.

Good Odds Emma possesses early zip and when she won from box one at Richmond on January 5 she went around her rivals in her search for the lead.

Four Five is a regular competitor at Wentworth Park and trainer Alan Proctor believes his reliable chaser is in with a good chance in Wednesday's Rooster's Traffic Control Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

Four Five has had five wins and 31 placings from 61 Wentworth Park appearances and a win on Wednesday will boost his earnings to nearly $72,000.

"He doesn't win many but is always up there at the finish and I would love to have a kennel full like him,'' Proctor said.

"On Wednesday Four Five is well drawn in box two and drops in grade on his last start.

"He can win this race providing he is reasonably close to the leaders going through the catching pen because he always gets home well.''


Trainer Andrew Bell, who has Coco Model in box one in Saturday's National Futurity final, has several runners at Wentworth Park on Wednesday.

His best prospects include Japanese Black, who has box four in race two, Cartel Master (box one, race seven) and Canya Zeus (box four, race eight).

"Japanese Black was a luckless fifth to Persuasive in a heat of the National Derby at Wentworth Park last Friday night after climbing over the winner's back at the first turn,'' Bell said.

"Japanese Black needs room to move and because he is a big 35kg dog when he gets a bump he takes a while to get going again.

"But he has strength at the finish as well as early pace and can break 30sec at Wenty with a clear run.

"Cartel Master didn't quite make it into the National Derby final after finishing second to Slingshot Hooks in his heat but is perfectly positioned in box one this week.

"He should get a great run to the first turn as his kennelmate Winkler, who has box two, is a wide runner.

"Canya Zeus was runner-up to Slingshot Jonesy in a Derby heat last Friday but he made the pace and clocked a very quick first split of 5.35.

"He has box four in a strong field this week but if he gets away quickly again he has a chance of being the pacemaker.''

Best Bet Ties That Bind (race 10)

Best Value Japanese Black (race 2)

Quaddie race 5 - 2, 1, 4

Race 6 - 2, 4

Race 7 - 1, 4, 3

Race 8 - 4, 3, 2

$20 for 37.03%