Belgian Primed For ‘Slick' City Debut

FIERCE betting is anticipated for 10 absorbing heats of the Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden (520m) at Wentworth Park this Wednesday night.

FIERCE betting is anticipated for 10 absorbing heats of the Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden (520m) at Wentworth Park this Wednesday night.

With a swag of regally bred chasers set to strut their stuff, the majority for the first time, betting for the opening round of the $25,000 to-the-winner series promises to be just as competitive as the racing itself.

One of the more eagerly awaited debutants is in race five, where the spotlight will be firmly fixed on Belgian from box five, installed an even money favourite with bookmaker Bet365 in early markets.

Prepared at Sawyers Gully by Bob McColm, the exciting first starter is a son of Magic Sprite and prolific producer Slick Exit, set to take his place off two Ladbrokes Gardens performance trials, including an eye-catching length second to hot prospect Zipping Garth in 29.50 recently.

Trial: Check out Belgian's second to Zipping Garth at Ladbrokes Gardens

"There's nothing at all between him and his brother Uncontrolled, that's probably the best way I can put it," declared McColm, comparing Belgian to Uncontrolled, winner at four of his five starts, including a last start 29.30 Ladbrokes Gardens success.

"I'd been having some problems with Belgian's wrists so that's why he's a bit behind a few of the others in the litter. When this race was only a few weeks away I decided to keep him for it and I was really happy with the trial behind Jason's dog at The Gardens the other week."

The trial in question was a length second to Jason Mackay's boom youngster Zipping Garth, the son of Zulu Zeus running down Belgian – who posted five seconds neat early – in the latter stages of the Ladbrokes Gardens 515 metres in a blistering 29.50.

Since that trial, Mackay unleashed Zipping Garth at Maitland last Thursday, his debut over the 450m simply mind boggling, scoring in a remarkable 24.85 – the fastest time posted by a maiden at the venue.

"He's a hot dog so to run him to a length was a great effort in that time, especially with the sections my dog ran," said McColm.

"Belgian's never been out of the boxes at Wenty but he's had a few slips down there a while ago, he's not going in cold, I guess you could say semi-cold.

"His best section is his middle one and he does go quick early so I expect him to be hard to beat but I've been around long enough to know plenty can happen, especially with maidens."

While Belgian is all set for his Wentworth Park debut this Wednesday, McColm told the Recorder his litter brother Uncontrolled, a last start 29.30 Ladbrokes Gardens winner, will next be seen in a heat of the Group 3 New Sensation Series at Wentworth Park on April 10.

"He'll go there Wednesday week – that looks the perfect race for him for where he's at," said McColm.

"If you look at his runs he probably should be undefeated but that's racing.

“He's still very young so I'll keep him to his own age for now, the last thing you want is to go into an Easter Egg and got knocked around and lose confidence against more experienced dogs."

Winner at four his five career starts, Uncontrolled is from a litter doing wonderful things, recording wins at 11 of their 22 appearances thus far.

In all, Slick Exit's progeny, both litters by Magic Sprite, have won over 70 races and almost $200,000 in stake earnings.

"Mr. Shire should have won a lot more if not for injury and Dodgy Exit trialed in 29.28 at The Gardens before he raced but he only had the 10 starts. I had all sorts of problems with him and the water bowl in the kennels policy," reflected McColm.

"I said Slick Exit would only have two litters and I've stuck to that, when the time comes I'll breed with her daughter Forced Exit providing they don't go overboard with any new rules and regulations in the future."

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