Racing
Wyong to suit Whinchat
Unique course layout to suit front running Whinchat.
David Pfieffer believes a race at Wyong on Saturday could be the perfect storm for the talented but enigmatic Whinchat.
The six-year-old son of Russian Revolution has shown ability up to, and arguably beyond Saturday's benchmark 100 over 1350m but barrier manners have cruelled a couple of opportunities in the past.
Whinchat resumed with a brave sixth, beaten 1.6 lengths at Rosehill when conceding weight to all those ahead of him, and Pfieffer believes he has the six-time winner primed despite the five weeks between runs.
"I thought he went good, it was a very, very fast-run race," Pfieffer said.
"He's now obviously missed a run because he had a slight foot issue but had that trial the other day, which I thought was good.
"He worked really nice Tuesday morning and I think the 1350 (metres) around Wyong, it doesn't come up very often, but I think should suit him really well."
With a long run into one sharp turn, Racing And Sports course stats show that the horse leading at Wyong over 1350m wins 26.2% of the time and places nearly 60% of the time.
"He's obviously a bold frontrunner, and he's going to have that whole back straight to be able to cross and get to the fence," Pfieffer noted.
"Wyong, with that short little turn, it could be that he's off and gone before they've got their revs built up high.
"Off the back of the way he worked this week, he looks to be cherry ripe."
Whinchat will face seven rivals with regular jockey Jay Ford aboard and is rated a $4.40 chance behind the $2.20 favourite and topweight Accredited.
Check out the latest South African News