Promising Fifth-Graders Clash At Wenty

The duel between group one winner Wyndra All Class and the in-form Fernando Hunter may be the top grade highlight of Wednesday night's Wentworth Park meeting but the most interesting is set to be the clash of four highly promising fifth graders in the Ladbrokes Sports Bar Open Stakes.

In what looks certain to be the best betting race of the night, the Ruth King-trained Lochinvar Pearl (box one) goes head to head with Mark Bell's recent slick Wenty winner Code Blue Tom (box two) along with Richard Muscat's pair Charlm Outlaw (box three) and Charlm Bullet (box five).

Lochinvar Pearl, the most suitably drawn of the quartet, has won two of three provincial starts while Charlm Outlaw and Charlm Bullet (pictured above) have compiled an impressive out-of-town tally of 10 wins and eight placings from 19 appearances.

Code Blue Tom posted a slick 30.01 winning at Wentworth Park from box two on June 14 and had no luck when third, as a $2 favourite, there last Wednesday.

Trainer Mark Bell said: "Code Blue Tom had box two and as soon as they jumped he and the dog in box one collided.

"That dog was wanting to get off the track and my bloke was trying to rail so I reckon they bumped three or four times in the early stages.

"After that I was hoping Code Blue Tom might find an easy race this week but it looks to be a hot fifth grade with plenty of chances.''

Richard Muscat's pair have not raced at Wentworth Park but each has trialled well over the 520m trip.

"I gave them a look last week and Charlm Outlaw clocked 30.10 while Charlm Bullet recorded 30.00 flat,'' Muscat said.

"There is only ever a length between them and I expect them both to run in a straight line from the boxes to the first turn.

"It might take a few more runs before we see the best of this pair but they are certainly ready for a 520m fifth grade now.''

Lochinvar Pearl's trainer Ruth King said: "My bitch is ideally drawn and can run a good first split.

"Her second section is usually ordinary but then she gets to the line really well, she is very strong at the finish of her races.''

Pheasants Nest trainer Richard Muscat has Charlm Outlaw and Charlm Bullet's litter sister Charlm Dancer in box one in the McInerney Now At Stud Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

Charlm Dancer was a luckless distant third at her Wentworth Park debut on May 24 when she was slowly away and hampered crossing to the rails before clocking 30.27 to take the minor prizemoney.

Richard Muscat said: "That race was the first time Charlm Dancer had ever been over 520m so she should be improved.''

Farmor Order won on debut at Wentworth Park on June 10 and despite finishing third at his only subsequent start, at Bulli, he has strong claims in Wednesday's Ladbroke It! Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

Farmor Order had box two when beaten three lengths in the 472m race at Bulli but trainer Patricia Chaker said her dog had not been suited by his inside draw.

"Before that race I trialled him over 472m at Bulli and Farmor Order clocked 26.50 but from box two in the race all he wanted to do was get up the track.

"I'm happy with him being in box six on Wednesday night because I'm convinced he likes it out there.'

In the Ladbrokes Mega Multi Free-For-All Fernando Hunter is chasing his fifth straight win and is perfectly positioned in box one.

But Wyndra All Class, placed in four of her past five starts against stiff opposition, is also nicely placed in box two.

She has won three of her five races from that draw and will relish having an empty box on her outside in three.

All Nose ran the race of his life when runner-up behind big race winner Aston Barak at Wentworth Park on Saturday and against far easier opposition looms as Wednesday's best bet in the 520m Ladbrokes Switch Masters Stakes.

Best Bet All Nose (race 10)

Best Value Charlm Dancer (race 8)

Race 5 - 2, 1

Race 6 - 4, 6, 8

Race 7 - 7, 3

Race 8 - 1, 5, 8