Derby Next Target For Johnny

Jungle Johnny, having his first start for six weeks and his initial outing for new trainer Mark Gatt, produced a slashing trial for next Saturday night's group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby heats with a personal best 29.46 runaway win at Wentworth Park on Saturday.

Jungle Johnny, who defeated subsequent Wentworth Park record breaker Dalwhinnie on debut, was beaten for early pace by Euphoria but grabbed the lead leaving the back straight to win easily.

After the race trainer Mark Gatt's brother Daniel Gatt, who handled Jungle Johnny on Saturday night, said: "His run home time of 11.48 was fantastic and indicates he could be a top class stayer later in his career.

"He does lack a touch of early speed but his run was super tonight because he was angling for a run behind the pacemaker Euphoria at the first turn.

"That greyhound was out wide but then cut back to the fence and Jungle Johnny didn't seem to know how to get around her and was slightly checked off her heels.''

I'm Sally, who was a gift to owner-trainer Rebecca Edenborough, is likely to be back at Wentworth Park on Thursday night for heats of the Summer Distance Plate following her all-the-way win in a 720m fifth grade on Saturday.

I'm Sally led throughout to win at her Wentworth Park 720m debut on November 28, clocking 42.28, before finishing a distant second to Late Night News in 41.78 a month later.

After Saturday's win I'm Sally's trainer Rebecca Edenborough said: "I was hoping she would break 42sec tonight so I'm a little disappointed she didn't go quicker than 42.26.

"But I'm Sally should take a lot of benefit from that run.

"After her first up Wentworth Park win she had a little injury and was sidelined for a month before chasing home Late Night News on December 28.

"So she should be improved enough to be worth putting in the Summer Distance Plate heats on Thursday night.''

Heats of the group 2 Summer Distance Plate will be staged over 720m at Wentworth Park on Thursday with the final on January 18.

Peloponnese, a litter sister to National Derby hopeful Trio Of Clowns, almost certainly earned a start in Saturday night's group 1 Ladbrokes National Futurity heat with an easy win in a personal best 29.66 at Wentworth Park on Saturday.

Trained by Jodie Lord for her breeders, Angela Della Bosca and Graham Sheather, Peloponnese had won from box one at Wentworth Park on December 19 and exited box two on Saturday.

"She badly needs an inside draw,'' Sheather said after Saturday's race.

"Her and the rest of the litter are going terrific, which is great because their dam Nikolina whelped a litter of seven bitches and a dog to Feral Franky for us five months ago.''

Jodie and Andy Lord's daughter Hayley Gilbert had a big night on Saturday, landing a winning double with Sinaloa Girl in 29.86 and From The East in a flying 29.57.

And Victorian breeders Amanda and Vince Tullio continued their long and successful combination with Sydney trainer Jason Mackay when their dog Recycled notched his fourth Wentworth Park win in six appearances in a slick 29.65 on Saturday.

Tullio sent Deliver to Mackay in 2018 and that dog won the group 1 Vic Peters Classic while they Tullio-Mackay team combined to win five races at Wentworth Park and Grafton with the stayer Exploded between August and October last year.

Gets Late Early won Friday night's group 2 Beast Unleashed Gosford Cup for Minnie Finn and on Saturday that greyhound's litter brother Steal A March resumed from a long spell to win in 29.69 for owner-trainer Joe Comito.