Wilkes' Charge ‘Picture' Perfect For Sprinters Cup

PAINTED Picture goes into the heats of the Grafton Sprinters Cup (407m) on Wednesday night with owner-trainer Mark Wilkes beaming with confidence.

This is despite the son of Fernando Bale and Amy Lyndan coming off a “handy at best” 23.59 FFA victory at his Grafton debut on June 24.

Painted Picture had trialled a scorching 23.02 at his first look at Grafton in preparation for that FFA start and Wilkes was disappointed the dog did not live up to the trial performance, despite his victory in the race.

“But, he came home after that run and was very down for a few days,” said Wilkes.

“But he has recovered since and is feeling on top of his game.

“I don't know what it was that affected him in that run.

“I galloped him up the straight on Sunday and was very anxious to see how he was on Monday, but he was feeling great. He's right for the heat on Wednesday night.”

Wilkes says he was staggered to see the quality of the heat Painted Picture will meet on Wednesday.

“I'm pretty certain that heat will be much stronger than the final field,” he said.

Painted Picture has started 26 times for 12 wins and 10 placings earning $63,000 along the way.

He has been a multiple Group finalist in the Qld Derby and Ipswich Gold Cup, but won the Eric Thomson Maiden and Mick Byrne Memorial at Albion Park when first starting his career.

Wilkes sent the dog to Tony Brett during his career but has had him home for the past three months.

“I looked at a few alternatives for the dog, like the Winter Cup and a couple of feature sprints at Albion park, but thought the Grafton Cup was his better option,” he said.

“I like him to have a straight run out of the boxes and this is what Grafton gives him.”

Painted Picture is a brother to the classy Fernando Blaster (14 wins, $66,000) also a multiple Group finalist.

He comes up against a tough field on Wednesday night including Morse who has won his past five starts mostly in sizzling times.

Three heats of the Cup will be contested.