Aunt Virginia Set For New Sensation Test

CLASSY Victorian female Aunt Virginia will be out to cement her standing as one of the sport's rising stars when she tackles a crack field in Saturday night's Group 3 New Sensation Final (520m).

The gifted daughter of Fernando Bale booked her place in the $40,000-to-the-winner decider with an eye-catching last to first 29.80 heat victory, extending her glowing record to 11 wins from 16 appearances.

And while her winning time was a world away from the blinding heat times recorded by Power And Glory (29.28) and Good Odds Cobber (29.34), the performance was equally as dazzling, giving Andrew Paraskevas, who trains in partnership with father John, confidence ahead of Saturday's star-studded finale.

FIELDS AND FORM WENTWORTH PARK SATURDAY NIGHT

"When she came out behind them like she did I started thinking what a long drive home it was going to be," Paraskevas said.

"Her last run at Wentworth Park was when she fell in the National Futurity so I straight away started thinking that it may have affected her and she took some harm out of that.

"But she got a run through and got going and it was a huge effort to win. But she can't afford to do that again this week in the final.

"She'll need to begin and get herself into the race. Like she can."

"I didn't know where to look" ????

Aunt Virginia bombed the start but still came back to win Simply Limelight New Sensation Heat 2 tonight, here's what Andrew Paraskevas thought about it all!
#thedogs #greyhoundracing #greyhounds @wentyparkgreys @watchdogracing pic.twitter.com/c9DYODFGq1

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) April 3, 2024

Aunt Virginia has drawn box four for her New Sensation assignment, lining up as the winner at eight of her nine most recent outings, her only defeat in that stretch when falling in the Group 1 National Futurity in January.

And while she came out of that tumble relatively unscathed, Paraskevas used the opportunity as a chance for a reset with the hugely talented speedster.

"We gave the Launching Pad some thought but didn't have much room to move with the amount of wins we had," the trainer added.

"We took her to Shepparton for the MatchMakers series thinking we couldn't win the series knowing Mackenna was going to it. In the end they scratched Mackenna from the final and we were lucky enough to win.

"It was a bit of a double edged sword. We'd either win which was great but if we didn't we'd still look to contest the Launching Pad.

"She's a 29.20 bitch at Sandown without question. Her first time there as a pup she trialled 29.40."

With a 29.49 trial and 29.59 Wentworth Park victory under her belt, Paraskevas is confident his star youngster is up to winning Saturday night's group 3 blockbuster.

But the Pearcedale conditioner admits to having a healthy respect for his opposition, albeit without knowing a great deal about them.

"I saw the dog (Power And Glory) run the time he did in the last heat," Paraskevas added.

"It's a very good field as you'd expect.

"We've kept our bitch on the fresh side as she's naturally strong. Later on she'll make a really good 600m dog and maybe even 700m.

"She'll definitely run 600. With 700 there's always that question mark until you see it."

Aunt Virginia is a $6 third favourite for the New Sensation behind Good Odds Cobber at $3.10 and Power And Glory at $3.40.

Fear The Dragon, draw in box two, has come in for strong support at $6.50.