Presutto's ‘Fantastic Four' For Wenty Expedition

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 Futurity heats.

Presutto is heading to Sydney to contest the prestigious age classics with four youngsters, with Laurels heroine Idolize the headline act.

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.

Idolize, which has won 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.

? SANDOWN PARK IDOL ?

IDOLIZE was able to cross and prevail in the $50,000 to-the-winner G2 #Laurels final at @sandowndogs in 29.55 for trainer Peter Presutto.

? IDOLIZE (8)
? GRACIE BALE (4)
? LOXTON BALE (6)

Result ? https://t.co/KXk7zpe1qo#GreyhoundRacing @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/ihLn2Pk2TE

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) December 16, 2021

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.

"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 too (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 heats of the two age classics.

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, Weblec Ranger are also with ‘caretaker' local trainers.