Charlie Sets Maiden Tone

SIZZLING heat winner Charlie Casey will go around rock bottom odds in Wednesday night’s Ladbrokes Maiden Final (520m) at Wentworth Park, holding a decided time advantage over his opposition for the $5,000 to-the-winner feature.

SIZZLING heat winner Charlie Casey will go around short odds in Wednesday night's Ladbrokes Maiden Final (520m) at Wentworth Park, holding a decided time advantage over his opposition for the $5,000 to-the-winner feature.

Rattling off a best of program 29.87 when comfortably winning his qualifier last week for trainer Peter Carr, Charlie Casey, a son of Kinloch Brae and El Casey, couldn't have been more impressive, recording his maiden victory by 5 ¾ lengths over fellow finalist Solar Sky, who incidentally heads into the final as the second fastest qualifier.

With the other qualifier taken out by the Peter Mattress-trained King Kinloch in a much slower 30.54, facts and figures lead to a Charlie Casey victory come Wednesday night, if the promising galloper brings a resemblance of last week's outstanding display to the races.

Race 1

The opening event sees the appearance of two smart youngsters Massimo Osti and North, the latter set to go around deep into the red. Massimo Osti gets box one for her city debut fresh off her recent victory in the Les Thompson Maiden Final (520m) at Nowra. By all reports she's trialled well in town and looks set to run a big race, tackling the very smart North, winner at three of his five starts for trainer John Hughes. A sizzling 22.42 Richmond winner over the 400m in December, North won off box eight at Gosford on New Year's Day in a slick 29.58 and on sections should have the speed to carve across from box eight. Public Speaking is the interesting runner for Jack Smith, caught the eye winning her maiden at Goulburn early last month and does look to have a future. Include in exotics.

Race 2

Jason Magri looks to have found another smart one in the shape of Banjo Boy youngster Gharb and despite drawing awkwardly in box seven for his city debut, does look hard to beat. Four starts for the three wins and his terrific box manners should take him a long way to victory, as they did for two recent Gosford successes in 29.60 and 29.51. Freaky Franky finished runner-up off this draw in town last week behind Wicked Thunder and the inside again tonight is a big plus for the son of Collision. From a better draw tonight All Night Fever can run a race at odds for Sid Swain – she's better than her recent form suggests, while Athletic Lee scored well here on Friday night posting 30.38 but worth noting that was in easier company than what she faces tonight. Will need to raise it up a notch.

Race 3  

Just the four to go around here and suited down to the ground by the reduced numbers going with Little Digger resuming. Hasn't been seen since November when scoring over the 720m in 42.27 but with the nine wins here over the sprint, he looks to get every chance to make his return a winning one. One Hour Parking looks our leader. Was run down in a Paws heat Saturday night and is racing as well as ever but the small field may make him a sitting shot late. Off The Leash has been going around in strong company and should appreciate the better draw and small field, littermate to the six who is more than capable of breaking 30 on his night and worth noting he hasn't been missed in early betting either.

Race 4

There's not a great deal between a few of these but with the benefit of the better draw going with Wicked Thunder to keep his unbeaten city record intact. Scored here last week in 30.31 after finishing second to North (who goes around in the first) at Gosford the start before and he looks like he's primed to really start cashing in on the early potential he displayed. Caishen was ultra-impressive scoring in town on January 2 in 30.17 from box one, moves to box eight tonight but should get a nice cart across from the talented Galaxy Banner who has had the three runs back from a break now and I liked her Maitland effort when third in fast time last Thursday. She's scooted around Wenty in 29.83 and is more than up to this tonight. They look the three on paper – so play around that trio.

Race 5

Maiden final where fastest qualifier Charlie Casey looks to go around all-the-rage following his slashing 29.87 heat success. Proven he can run fast time and does look to have a very bright future. Stella Marina has the inside and should lead up on what she displayed last week before tiring late behind 30.54 heat winner King Kinloch. Solar Sky and Vouchers are well bred types in good kennels, drawn six and seven respectively which sees the job ahead if the favourite repeats last week's performance.

Race 6

Gardens To Wenty Final where the exciting Looking Above comes to Wenty for the first time with a picket fence beside his name. Seven starts for five wins and qualified fastest for tonight with a 29.61 Gardens success. Proven he can handle middle draws and is the dog to beat with betting to reflect that. Bob's Chance has the advantage of seeing Wenty on three previous occasions and on Boxing Day he ran second to Sorry Scott which is pretty tidy form lines for this. Bear's Octane has a lot of speed but unproven at the 520m, Key Nismo has been running a stack of placings recently, wouldn't surprise if that trend continued tonight.

Race 7

Distance race of the night and also one of the more intriguing events of the program. Gone with Midnight Joyce who makes her distance debut off a strong Richmond 618m victory on Friday in 36.20. Has gone 30 neat over the sprint in town and expect her to lob on the pace and see out the 720m well enough to land this. Chase The Cash lines up for another distance tilt in town off a Gosford 603m win. Is the class runner and has terrific form lines for this event but given her brilliance is suspect late over the extra journey. Should look the winner for a long way. My Boy Bean and Tweety have claims as well and are worth including at odds.

Race 8

Looks to be two key chances for the last leg of the quaddie, Fantastic Axel and Snow Fantasy. Fantastic Axel is a 30.13 winner in town already for Jason Fletcher and from the nice draw, efforts like his 30.73 at Richmond and 26.48 at Bulli should be good enough to get away with this. Snow Fantasy scored at Gosford two starts back in 29.56 defeating Nangar Jack who lines up in Saturday's Paws Of Thunder Final – good credentials for a Wednesday night grade 5. Expect that pair to fight it out, Josie Tokaam looks the speed off the red, what she does early make well dictate the result.

Race 9

Looks a pretty simple equation. If Feral Franky runs up to his sizzling 29.65 Dubbo victory back on January 4 his Wenty debut will more than likely be a successful one. Quoted around the $1.30 mark and that looks reasonable – very promising and gets all the favours from the inside. My Bro Bruno has had the seven city starts for two seconds, no shortage of talent, just yet to put it all completely together. Will be strong late. Windsor Vella won a much easier race here Friday night from a better draw but is going well so include in exotics.

Race 10

Expect the speed in the last to come from out wide in Rachel's Dream and Ombre Rose. Whilst they can be tested at the end of 520m their records from wide draws is very good and on sections can make a real race of it tonight. Leaning Ombre Rose who should strip fitter after leading before being run down here on Friday. Hollywood returned to the winners list last Wednesday in 30.30 – harder draw tonight but expect the vacant draw inside aids his cause. Srixon not without claims either, boasts a win and three seconds from his past four starts and is nicely boxed.

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