Wentworth Park hosted the Ladbrokes Group 3 Christmas Gift & Group 3 Christmas Cheer Finals on Saturday 16th December 2023, run and won over the 520m and 720m respectively.
Our eight staying finalists stepped-out first, to contest the $25,000 to-the-winner cheer event, which was won in brilliant fashion by Queenslander, Valpolicella. Trained by astute mentor, Tony Zammit and owned by Sandro Bechini, the daughter of Shima Shine and Saldana was sublime from the inside alley, posting a sizzling time of 41.80. It was her 17th career victory from start 34.
Ritza Piper for Joe Scerri was gallant in defeat, finishing 4.25 lengths away in second, with miss consistent, Punter’s Bandit, a whisker away in third for Andy Lord.
The sprinters were next to contest their $25,000 to winning connections, with master conditioner, Melinda Finn, capping off a fantastic 2023, with Zipping Caleb producing a brilliant finishing burst over the 520m. The son of Flying Ricciardo and Zipping Lilly clocked a slick time of 29.61, notching up career win number 9 and taking his prizemoney earnings to a tick under $100,000. Eyes To Eyes for Neville Brown finished 1.75 lengths away in second, with My Hepburn for Sue Smith a further 0.50 lengths away in third.
📸 Images courtesy of The Dogs & Redden Photo Video Race Images
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