The Group 3 Simply Limelight New Sensation final will be run on Saturday night. Here’s our preview of the final, including The Hounds tip to claim the $25,000 on offer:
Taormina | Jodie Lord
Best Wentworth Park 520m Time: 29.45
Best Track & Distance 1st Split: 5.41
Track & Distance Record: 11: 3-6-1
Box 1 History: 5: 1-4-0
Ladbrokes Price: $4.50
Final Thought: Taormina has barely put a paw wrong since debuting at the back end of 2024, with 13 race starts resulting in 12 cheques for connections. She’s raced almost exclusively at Wentworth Park in her short career and went within a nose of winning the G1 Futurity back in January. She does have good early pace (5.41 PB to the first mark) but drawing Box 1 again (set for her seventh cherry draw in her twelfth start at Wenty) is the big advantage. Might not have a 29.2 sort of run in her but she should get a beautiful run to the first turn and as such, is right in the mix to claim her breakthrough feature on Saturday night
Taormina would give the Lord kennel their second win in this race in three years
Honk Honk | Tony Mason
Best Wentworth Park 520m Time: 29.19
Best Track & Distance 1st Split: 5.43
Track & Distance Record: 7: 4-2-1
Box 2 History: 3: 1-1-1
Ladbrokes Price: $3.50
Final Thought: Honk Honk busted the clock two back at Wenty running a low mark of 29.19 and she is yet to miss a place in seven starts at headquarters. She went under in her heat to She’s That Girl but the 29.41 effort was still full of merit and she looks beautifully drawn to make her presence felt. Taormina will go forward and Sweet Bee (Box 3) on her outside also runs quick and straight so she could get a beautiful cart into the race behind either of those two. Her best would almost certainly win this race but she has drifted after opening as the race favourite earlier in the week.
Honk Honk is based in the Hunter Valley at Brandy Hill
Sweet Bee | Michelle Sultana
Best Wentworth Park 520m Time: 29.81
Best Track & Distance 1st Split: 5.41
Track & Distance Record: 1: 0-0-1
Box 3 History: N/A
Ladbrokes Price: $11
Final Thought: The former Victorian is enjoying life in the kennel of Michelle Sultana after finishing third in the Richmond Oaks decider (maybe a touch unlucky not to win) and now qualifying for this feature final. Had a tough Box 5 draw in the heats so will appreciate being a shade closer to the fence. She’s got good early burn and a repeat of the 5.41 first section from last weekend would see her right in the thick of things as they whiz through the first corner. She’s only small (25.6kg) but she’s been a model of consistency lately, only missing a place in one of her last 10 starts. Can she run out a strong 520m? We’ll find out on Saturday night.
Sweet Bee is a daughter of Zambora Brockie x Sweet Imitated
Zipping Dekkers | Minnie Finn
Best Wentworth Park 520m Time: 29.81
Best Track & Distance 1st Split: 5.54
Track & Distance Record: 3: 1-1-1
Box 4 History: 1: 0-0-0
Ladbrokes Price: $23
Final Thought: One of the outsiders of the field and for good reason considering she’s only seven race starts and is yet to crack 29.80 at Wenty Park. One of the slowest dogs to the first mark in the field (5.61 average first split in three starts at WP) and she will be copping plenty of pressure from both sides. She was a Robert Smith Memorial Maiden finalist at The Gardens a month ago but unfortunately fell in that race and even though she’s had three runs since for a win and two minors, she will need to find plenty to take this out.
Zipping Dekkers is a half-sister to Zipping Orlando
Canya Sapphire | Jason Magri
Best Wentworth Park 520m Time:
Best Track & Distance 1st Split: 29.47
Track & Distance Record: 4: 3-1-0
Box 5 History: N/A
Ladbrokes Price: $4.20
Final Thought: Building an imposing record at Wenty Park with three wins and a second from four starts and getting better with each run. Her heat victory in a PB time of 29.47 last week was very good and she showed awesome early pace (5.34) to lead all the way. She went 5.37 to the mark a month ago and has run 5.45 (twice) in between so she looms as the leader of the race entering the bend. Unsure how the squeeze draw will impact her though with She’s That Girl outside and a host of quick dogs inside, but maybe she’s just up and gone. Another Magri dog into another major and he’s due a bit of luck in a big final.
Final Thought: She’s the youngest (two in May) and most inexperienced in the race (just six starts) but she’s also one of the fastest. Set a 29.23 PB in the heats and was the quickest qualifier for a final full of talent. Can she cross Canya Sapphire? I don’t think so. So where does she end up in the run? Probably posted three or four wide through the first bend and that doesn’t usually bode well. The kennel has been quietly spruiking her talent for a while and her only defeat so far came to kennelmate and new Gosford 603m track record holder, Depeche.
Final Thought: Another roughie who needed to draw inside to feature. Has had the most race starts (19) of any dog in the field but is one of the oldest as well. Looks an honest customer who has decent early toe, but how on earth he gets across and into the race from this draw, I have no idea? Has only had three runs at Wenty Park and the heat was by far the most impressive so minor placings look his best chance.
Blue Linkin with trainer Ken Burnett
Black Myth Wave | Victor Sultana
Best Wentworth Park 520m Time: 29.50
Best Track & Distance 1st Split: 5.37
Track & Distance Record: 6: 3-1-0
Box 8 History: 1: 1-0-0
Ladbrokes Price: $11
Final Thought: Real shame for connections he’s drawn off the track because if he’d drawn inside, he would have been one of the best chances based off his heat performance. A strong 29.50 winner over Taormina, he absolutely speared out and it was all over as they entered the first bend. 5.37 to the peg is great going and a repeat of that is the only way he can win this from the carpark and with so much speed engaged. Is only four runs back from a spell over the New Year so will be cherry ripe fitness wise for this and is riding a four win streak. Best roughie…if he comes out.
