Is Kayli the New Sensation?

07:00 20 March 2026
GRNSW News
Zipping Kayli will be having only her eighth start when she contests Saturday night's Group 3 New Sensation at Wentworth Park, but connections rate her a "much faster" greyhound than their 2018 final winner, Winsome Money.

Zipping Kayli is trained by Courtney Barnes, while her mother Minnie Finn, along with her late husband John Finn, trained Winsome Money.

Minnie Finn has qualified for the New Sensation with Back Tomorrow and considers that greyhound and Zipping Kayli are both superior to her 2018 winner.

Zipping Kayli, the baby of the field who doesn't turn two until June, clocked a personal best 29.50 when a fast finishing second behind fastest heat winner Consigliere, who recorded 29.38, in last week's heats.

"The fast time posted by Courtney's bitch didn't surprise me at all, Zipping Kayli is a very good youngster,'' Minnie Finn said.

"My bitch Back Tomorrow won her heat in 29.76 but has clocked 29.38 at Wenty so I think our two bitches have terrific chances.

"Zipping Kayli is faster than Back Tomorrow and while she came from behind when second in her heat, she can begin well, although she doesn't possess a lot of early pace.''

Ritza Tears will become the first greyhound to win the National Derby-New Sensation double if he can win on Saturday for trainer Mark Gatt.

The New Sensation was first staged in 2013 and Gatt considers Ritza Tears has an outstanding chance in Saturday's final.

"Although he has box four, I think Ritza Tears has a terrific draw,'' Mark Gatt said.

"Magic Bandit, who has box three, goes to the rails and Entertainer, drawn outside my dog in box five, is a wide runner.

"I'll say this, if Ritza Tears gets beaten on Saturday night I won't be blaming the box draw.

"But I'll admit Zipping Kayli is going to be awfully hard to beat from the rails alley.''

Consigliere, whose 29.38 all the way heat win from box two was clearly the fastest qualifying time, seems awkwardly positioned in box eight.

But Andy Lord, whose wife Jodie trains Consigliere, said: "Box eight is not ideal but if he begins cleanly he will still be hard to toss.

"Consigliere won't crash across to the rails and he did win at Nowra from box eight in a fast 29.38.

"And when he did that he was seeing that track for the first time.''

Consigliere


Consigliere's kennelmate Power Squeeze should enhance his claims for next month's group one Association Cup by winning Saturday night's top grade 720m event at Wentworth Park.

At 22 months Power Squeeze is among the youngest stayers in training, but won on debut over 720m at Wentworth Park in 41.79 before chasing home Derry in 42.12 on March 7.

Power Squeeze drew wide in both those races and looks better suited from box two on Saturday, especially as he has a vacant box on his left.

Andy Lord has a huge opinion of Power Squeeze and said: "It is only a matter of time before this dog runs 41.40 at Wenty.''

Saturday's best bet looms as Zipping Kayli's older half-sister Zipping Chetty, who has box three in the 520m fifth-grade Encouragement Stakes.

Like Zipping Kayli, Zipping Chetty is trained by Courtney Barnes, and should relish a sharp drop in grade on Saturday.

She lacks early pace but has only five rivals and while she has won four races at WP, her only opponent with a single success at the track is Simplicity Magic, who has box seven.

Best Bet Zipping Chetty (race 10)
Best Value Zipping Kayli (race 7)

Quaddie
Race 5 - 2, 6, 1
Race 6 - 4, 5, 7
Race 7 - 1, 4, 2
Race 8 - 2, 4
$20 for 37.03%