‘Mixed bag’ for Vics at Wenty

Tuesday, 19 Jan, 2021,
by Peter Quilty

‘Mixed bag’ for Vics at Wenty

Victoria experienced mixed fortunes in the heats of a Group 1 triple-header late last week at Wentworth Park.

On the positive side of the ledger, we now have three finalists in the National Derby (520m) – but no qualifiers for the National Futurity final.

Talented tyros Weblec Jet (29.79sec) and Eagles Nest Egg (29.91sec) flew the flag in Friday night’s Derby heats with brilliant wins, and Tyler Durden was a gallant second. Do It also finished second and is first reserve for the final.

Jeff Britton has a major hand in the $75,000-to-the-winner Derby as he prepares Weblec Jet, Tyler Durden and Do It, while Brendan Pursell trains Eagles Nest Egg.

Tyler Durden ($3.50), who has drawn Box 1, is on the second line of TAB’s fixed odds betting for the final, with Weblec Jet (Box 7) and Eagles Nest Egg (Box 8) both at $5.

Meanwhile, our superstar and Australian Greyhound of the Year Simon Told Helen, trained by David Burnett, is a second reserve for the Paws Of Thunder final (520m) after finishing third in his heat on Saturday night.

But Victoria scooped the pool in heats of the G2 Summer Distance Plate (720m) on Friday night.

Robert Camilleri saluted with Run Like Jess (41.91sec, Best) and Robert Britton scored with Blazing Cartier (42.29sec). Both will be chasing a $40,000 first prize in the final.

Run Like Jess (Box 5) is quoted at $3.30 for the final, with Blazing Cartier (Box 8) at $3.80.

Peter Quilty

Peter Quilty has more than three decades of experience as assistant editor of Victorian Greyhound Weekly. He was editor of GRV monthly magazine The Adviser (2001-09) and owner/publisher of Australian Greyhound Monthly. He also served on the selection panel for the inaugural GRV ‘Hall of Fame’ inductees and for several years was an adjudicator on the Victorian GOTY. He’s also published greyhound racing yearbooks and wrote the ‘Bold Trease’ video script.