Fired Up for Wentworth Park Return

Firethorn, widely regarded as the best stayer to race at Brisbane's Q2 Parklands track, returns to Wentworth Park on Friday night in preparation for next month's Group 2 Sydney Cup.

That $40,000 to the winner staying race, first held in 1963 at Wentworth Park, will be run at headquarters on October 17.

Firethorn has box five in Friday's Ladbrokes Mates Mode Pots 720m fourth and fifth grade, and will be chasing her third win in four appearances wearing the yellow rug.

Although she is trained at Grafton by Mark Moroney, Firethorn has become virtually unbeatable over 710m at Brisbane's Parklands circuit.

"She has won four out of five over 710m there but as she has not raced at Wentworth Park since being unplaced a month ago, I felt she needed another run at Wenty to make sure her confidence was okay,'' Moroney said.

"I also have Firethorn's litter sister Firebird in Friday's race, and she should also be contesting the Sydney Cup.

"Firebird needed a look at Wentworth Park because she has not seen the track and while she is not as good as Firethorn, I believe she can develop into a handy stayer.

"At her first 710m outing Firebird made the pace at Q2 Parklands on September 4 and got a bit tired, finishing fourth, just two lengths from the winner.''

Spring Witness, who has had a win and five placings from nine Wentworth Park outings, gets a golden opportunity to notch another success when he exits box one in the Follow RPV on Racebook 1-2 wins 520m fifth grade on Friday.

"Having box one should help Spring Witness a lot,'' trainer Greg Board said.

"That's because he is a bit tardy early and he never seems to have much luck in his races.

"But at his only start from box one he won in smart time over 457m at Temora.''

Board's son Scott has Spring Mirage in box three in Friday's Ladbrokes Quick Multi 520m fifth grade and Greg Board said the dog is better than his Wentworth Park record suggests.

Spring Mirage has been unplaced in each of three Wentworth Park outings but Greg Board said: "Before he raced there he trialled 29.70 at the track so he can run.

"But as he has not won there he might find it hard to beat Go Lani on Friday.

"Go Lani has box one and she has won 13 races at Wentworth Park so is looks awfully hard to beat.''

Makati Lad is the only sub-30sec Wentworth Park winner in the Ladbrokes Srm In Multis 520m fifth grade and trainer Syd Swain believes he can regain that form on Friday night.

Makati Lad had box five when he won a similar race in 29.86 at Wentworth Park in May and he has box six on Friday.

At his first start after a spell the dog was nine lengths from the winner when seventh over 401m at Richmond on August 31.

"He was checked soon after the start but I was still disappointed with that performance, it was a fairly miserable run,'' Syd Swain said.

"But I took him back to Richmond on Sunday night to trial him over 520m and he clocked 29.80, so that indicates he could be nearly back to his best.''

Hardest for Makati Lad to beat looms as Louie The Fly, who bungled the start completely when fifth at his Wentworth Park debut on August 28.

Louie The Fly had won by a dozen lengths in a slick 29.70 over 520m at Dapto at his previous start and was unlucky when beaten a length when second over 520m at Nowra last Monday night.

After being last away from box eight, Louie The Fly was hampered at the first turn and was conceding eight lengths' start to the leaders at the half-way mark.

Louie The Fly looks well drawn in box two on Friday.

Best Bet Firethorn (race 6)

Best Value Spring Witness (race 4)

Race 5 - 6, 2, 3

Race 6 - 5, 7

Race 7 - 1, 2, 7

Race 8 - 4, 7, 5