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  • Thursday, 13 Jan, 2022,
  • by Gerard Guthrie

Presutto’s ‘Fantastic Four’ for Wenty

After finishing 2021 on a high with Idolize winning the Group 2 Sandown Laurels, a buoyant Peter Presutto is embarking on an ambitious expedition to Wentworth Park for Friday night’s G1 National Derby and National Futurity heats.

Presutto is heading to Sydney to contest the prestigious age classics with four youngsters, with Futurity contender Idolize the headline act as she takes aim at a second female feature.

Joining Idolize are My Redeemer x Hightan littermates Chic (Futurity) and High End (Derby), bred and raced by Peter and Natalie Presutto and good friends and Devon Meadows neighbours Justin and Michelle Nolan.

Dynamic Prince, a son of Dyna Double One and Peta Pitstop, will line up in the Derby qualifiers.

“Dynamic Prince is probably the quickest of all of them.”

Idolize, winner of seven of her 15 starts, is the most fancied of Presutto’s quartet in TAB betting.

She’s the $2.70 second elect from Box 3 in the third of four Futurity heats, while she’s $10 in the ‘All In’ market.

High End and Dynamic Prince are $6 and $7.50 in their respective Derby heats, while Chic is an $8 chance in her Futurity run-off.

“I trialled three of them at Wentworth Park; Chic had a little bit of a problem, so I didn’t take her up,” Presutto explained.

“It was an 11-hour drive and there was only half an hour between getting there and trialling, so it was asking a lot of them, but they trialled well.

WATCH: Idolize (8) led all-the-way to win the G2 Laurels at Sandown Park on December 16, clocking 29.55sec.

“I gave them a ‘box to box’ and Idolize went the best of all the trials. I’m not sure about the times up there but she ran 5.36sec early and the locals told me that would lead any race, any day.

“She did get a bit lost going around the first corner, understandably, and ran 17.85sec to the back.

“She probably needs the hard run on Friday, so she might feel the pinch a bit at the end of the race. But if she can get through she’s going to improve in the final. I think they all will.

“I haven’t raced at Wentworth Park for years and I’ve never had much luck up there but in saying that, this is the first time I’ve gone up and trialled. I’ve put the yards in, so hopefully it pays off!”

Presutto provided his thoughts on his other three runners.

Chic: “Chic looks boxed okay (Box 8) with a bit of pace drawn on her inside. If she can begin well and get around the first corner in second or third she’s definitely a chance because she’s got a bit of strength about her.”

Dynamic Prince: “He’s probably the quickest of all of them. He trialled good too – he was less than a length off what Idolize ran to the back. He looks to be drawn okay (Box 6) with a vacant box on his inside. He just needs a bit of room early. He’s been getting poleaxed in his races but it’s his own fault. He’s a fantastic chaser and if he could find a length early he’d be in it right up to his ears.”

High End: “He’s a quick dog too but he might find it a bit tough.”

Presutto isn’t the only Victorian trainer with multiple runners in the Derby and Futurity heats.

Andrea Dailly has Zara’s Ivan in the Derby and Octavia Bale and Foxy Bourbski in the Futurity, Emily Azzopardi is eyeing the Derby with Nyah Nyah Flyer, Slingshot Jonesy and Speak Up, and Anthony Azzopardi is returning to his home state with Subtle Art (Derby) and Caroline (Futurity).

Gavin Clifton is targeting the Derby with Pazienza, as is Dustin Drew with Aston Marvel.

Gallant last start Silver Chief runner-up Compliance will be based with NSW trainer Jason Magri for his Derby campaign, along with Persuasive, while Boston Garden, Osprey Phantom, Weblec Gem, Weblec Raider and Weblec Ranger are also with ‘caretaker’ local trainers.

Group 1 National Derby contender Dynamic Prince in full flight at Healesville.

Gerard GuthrieGerard Guthrie

Gerard Guthrie

One of Australia’s leading greyhound racing journalists since 2000 with the Greyhound Recorder and now with Greyhound Racing Victoria. Part-owner 2013 Group 1 Paws Of Thunder winner Sheikha. (The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of GRV)

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