A 12-race program – with starts at 400m, 515m and 715m - kicks off at 6:36pm on Friday, September 22 at Ladbrokes Gardens. The Group 2 Black Top is the highlight of the night with 'The Macca' and Sonia Hornery Stayers Cup also set to be run and won. Here’s our preview of the card.
LADBROKES BEST BET
R5 - #3 Zipping Vanessa | John Finn
Arguably New South Wales’ best stayer after producing an epic performance in the NSW National Distance Final five back.
Any greyhound that can put half a dozen lengths on Palawa King (albeit he found some trouble) is worth following for a while and she’s still so lightly raced so you’d think there is only upside to come.
She arrives back at Ladbrokes Gardens for the first time since she debuted at the circuit in the heats of the Robert Smith Memorial Maiden way back in February, this time though she’ll contest the Sonia Hornery Stayers Cup.
The daughter of Feral Franky ran at Wentworth Park last Saturday night (41.70) and belted Bandit Jane by 8.75 lengths, so the form looks good and she is our best bet on Friday’s card.
Ran a decent third behind Umberto in last week’s Black Top heats, stopping the clock in 29.87 in what was his first run in over a month.
Comes out of that race and back into a mixed 4th/5th grade event with a stack less depth, and with the benefit of the run, you’d imagine a 29.7 sort of effort is well within his reach.
He’s drawn the rail where his record of 10: 4-2-2 jumps off the page, and although he hasn’t won since June, the kennel has claimed 11 of it’s last 27.
If he can hold out That’s Lil Harry (Box 3) through the first bend, the race looks a good one for him to take out.
Kat Ernst and father Ken with Belmont Bullet
RACE OF THE NIGHT
While the Sires On Ice Black Top has the classier field (see preview here), ‘The Macca’ has the closer one, with seven of the eight runners in the 2023 edition currently in single figures with the bookmakers.
The race is worth $7,500-to-the-winner and is named after the late race caller John McDermott.
Weffalee Shield (Box 1) was slow away in his heat of the Black Top last week and was never in the hunt behind a rampaging Head The Charge. Finished in a bunched group of runners 13.5 lengths off the winner but his form in 2023 has been solid with three feature final appearances in the NSW National Sprint (324m), The Squizzy (392m) and the Jimmy Jenkins Memorial (472m). He’s also qualified for the MDC semi-finals and has a great record from the red (8: 4-2-0).
Winlock Piper (Box 2) was thrown in the Black Top heats last week and fair enough too after producing four 29.7 runs leading into the feature series. He never really got into the race after being seventh at the first mark, running home OK to finish sixth behind Fat Boy’s Dream in 30.07. He’s better than that, and with the aid of a better draw, it may pay to forgive his last effort.
My Hepburn (Box 3) was another who was uncharacteristically sluggish last week from the boxes and it gave her no hope against an electric Nangar Lucy. The Susan Smith-trained chasers opening split in her four Gardens runs leading up to last week were 4.91, 4.92, 4.89 and 4.95, then on the big night she went 5.06. Just needs to find that electric box speed from a handy draw to be a big chance, and could pinch a handy break if she clears the dogs in 1 and 2 in the early stages.
Nangar Archie (Box 4) is the outsider of the field at about $13 and heads to Newcastle for the first time after a fifth-placed effort in the G1 Dapto Megastar heats. Was a G3 Richmond Derby finalist back in March behind Zipping Novak so certainly has ability, but has only raced six times in six months for the Brewer kennel. Is fourth up over 500 on Friday night so should almost be peaking fitness wise, but it looks tough for him in this field.
Ronnie Ulrick would love to pinch a race like this with Go Bears (Box 5) after bobbing up in a few big features this year. The son of My Redeemer ran third to Victa Damian in the G1 National Derby in January, sixth to Tommy Kade in April’s New Sensation, and sixth again in the Casino Beef Week Cup in May. Has only raced sparingly since the Casino run but has won two of his last four and produced arguably the toughest run of the Black Top heats (see below) when caught wide the trip from Box 8 to finish in 29.96.
Shot Of Red (Box 6) really impressed trainer Anthony Azzopardi in the Black Top heats, with the G1 winning trainer pretty confident his charge can improve a stack off that first look at Ladbrokes Gardens. He ran 29.81 to finish 4.25 lengths of Frisky Felon seven days ago, and if he was drawn down lower, would probably be favoured to win the race. He would probably need to jump and cross the likes of Go Bears and My Hepburn to win the race, which is no mean feat.
Oscar Boaz (Box 7) comes into the field in place of the scratched Scramjet and is the second of the Brewer runners. He was in that bunch of dogs that finished a dozen or so lengths of Head The Charge last week but his time of 30.26 was nowhere near his track and trip PB of 29.53. Needs to lead and looks too hard from Box 7.
Fascinate Trump (Box 8) is trying to make it back-to-back ‘Maccas’ for Noelene Holloway after leading from start to finish in 2022. That race pattern has served the son of Aussie Infrared well with 16 wins and 18 placings from 56 starts, but has the early burn just gone out of his legs of late? His best opening section would have him right in the frame if he steps, but if he doesn’t, it’s curtains from Box 8. Loves the track and trip (15: 7-1-3), has run 29.51 at the venue, but you’d better be praying he flies out.
The Dogs Tips
5. Go Bears
3. My Hepburn
6. Shot Of Red
2. Winlock Piper
TRAINER IN FOCUS | Mark Davidson
R2 | Harry Confetti (Box 6) - "he's racing well but the one to beat is Oscar Samuel, he's a good reliable beginner for Ricky Brewer We're probably going to be chasing Frank and Vie and we'll need Oscar Samuel to cart Harry Confetti into the race if we're to be a chance. The box isn't ideal and although he's a reliable beginner, he'd be better drawn inside as it will take a bit to get across from out there."
Black Top Final | Frisky Felon and Fat Boys Dream (see full preview here)
R8 | Quick To Judge (Box 7) - "he's definitely boxed on the wrong side. Off the inside I'd say he'd be hard to beat, but he'll want to come out and get across to the fence and that might not work. He has run 5.00 to the mark so he can get out well but he hasn't really learnt to go straight until he crosses them, so he'll be putting pressure on the 5 and 6 early for sure."
R11 | He's Thunderous - "he's a good chance and the small field will suit him. Bluey's Wish (Box 1) is stepping up in trip for the first time so it will have some early pace. He's Thunderous actually lead Quick To Judge in a trial this week for the first time so I'm happy with how he's going, he just needs to get onto the lure and be left alone for a change."
Best Chance | He's Thunderous "He's always had to scrap and fight t get into his races so I don't mind him in this field. The vacant boxes might help him get through unscathed and he could break thirty at his best."
BOX STATS
Ladbrokes Gardens box statistics ahead of the September 22 meeting
