Todd Dunn describes him as having "the worst box manners of any dog he has trained," but Simplicity Magic has the draw and talent to give his trainer his second Wentworth Park winner this Saturday night.
When Simplicity Magic came from last at box-rise to score a four lengths' win last Saturday, he gave Dunn, a landscape gardener, his first success at Wentworth Park.
Dunn, whose shares training duties on the family's 3.6ha property at Nabiac, on the mid north coast, with his real estate agent mother Roslyn and his father Troy, who trained Twelve Men to win a 280m race at Wentworth Park in February, 2024.
This Saturday Simplicity Magic has box two in the Wenty Leagues Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, and looks more suitably positioned than he was last week when he came from box eight to easily beat Winsome Rambo in a slick 29.85.
Simplicity Magic has not missed a place in four Wentworth Park appearances and Todd Dunn said: "Before last week's win, he had been unlucky when placed twice at Wenty.
"But because he is such a terrible box dog Simplicity Magic always needs to get around the first bend safely.
"If he can find the rails comfortably he has a powerful finish at the end of 520m.
"He is already the best greyhound anyone in my family has trained.''
Simplicity Magic
Irinka Alana had trialled just once at Wentworth Park before making the pace to the home turn when second to Before The Dawn at Wentworth Park last Saturday night and could go one better in this week's We Stand With Tasmania 520m fifth grade.
Irinka Alana is trained and part-owned by Lynn Maney, from Wimbledon in western NSW, and is poised to give her trainer her first Wentworth Park winner since she won with Gulgong Flyer, in November, 2021.
"I haven't raced often at Wentworth Park over the past few years and bought Irinka Alana from leading trainer Jack Smith after she had won her maiden race for him at Temora on September 24,'' Maney said.
"Although Irinka Alana had been placed just once in five races before that win, Jack is an old friend, and he reckoned I couldn't go wrong if I bought her.
"Sure enough, since I got her Irinka Alana has had six starts for three wins and three seconds, and even if she never won in town she is a worthwhile purchase due to her value as a brood bitch.
"She is by Bernardo from Miss Ezmae, who won the inaugural The 715 at The Gardens for Jack and Maree Smith and earned $668,000 after winning 17 of 28 starts.
"Jack Smith trialled Irinka Alana for me at Wentworth Park before last Saturday's race, and she clocked 30.20, but she trimmed that down to 30.02 when she finished second behind Before The Dawn.
"As that was only her second look at Wentworth Park I expect her to go even better this week, and while she has box four, it looks a winnable race for her.''
Saturday's best bet should be See This, the only dual Wentworth Park winner in the Ladbrokes Sports Bar 520m fifth grade.
Facts and figures point to the Kristy Sultana-trained dog leading all the way, as See This possesses the quickest first split (5.38) and easily the fastest overall time (29.70) in the field.
And when he clocked 29.70 at the beginning of this month, See This jumped from box five - his draw on Saturday.
Mr Nicko and Zipping Botham chased Kiwi Harry home in their heat but can turn the tables in Saturday's final of the Ladbrokes Srm In Multis Stakes, 520m.
Zipping Botham had no luck, finishing third, three lengths from the winner, after coming from box five and will relish the move to box one in Saturday's final.
He has not worn the red rug in any of his 20 starts but has won three from five outings from box two so is suited drawn near the fence.
Mr Nicko had box three in his heat and after being near the lead all the way faded slightly in the straight to finish a length from the winner.
Mr Nicko has box eight in Saturday's final but has no trouble handling a wide draw.
Courtney Barnes trains Zipping Botham while her husband Todd is the owner of Winsome Josie, who looks the greyhound to beat in Saturday's Mark Hughes Foundation Stakes, a 520m top grade event.
Winsome Josie, trained by Todd Barnes' mother Minnie Finn, was a strong finishing second behind Speedy Pie after coming from box five at Wentworth Park on October 30 but is far better positioned in box two on Saturday.
