Ritza Hattie and Rue De Kahn face each other in a mouthwatering clash while Bessy Boo looks a strong contender at Saturday's Wentworth Park meeting.
Last month's Gosford Cup winner Ritza Hattie (pictured, green rug) jumps from box one in the night's seventh race, the Happy Birthday Nathan Stakes (520m) and looks a great chance.
She won well at Wentworth Park last week and with an ideal draw will be hard to stop, despite facing a tough field including the ever-dangerous Rue De Kahn.
He was run down by Smooth Number when they last clashed over 720m at Wentworth Park but a fitter Bessy Boo is set to turn the tables in Saturday night’s Macro Meats Gourmet Game Stakes at Wentworth Park.
On January 31 Bessy Boo led until the last couple of strides before being nailed on the line by the consistent Smooth Number in 42.46.
But that was Bessy Boo’s first long-distance test since May, 2014, and the Christine Proctor-trained dog showed the benefit of that hit-out by easily defeating smart Victorian Love Affair in a fast 42.45 at the Glebe track last Saturday night.
“He is fit and well and ready to run exactly the type of race he always runs,’’ Proctor said.
“Bessy Boo was definitely a bit fitter last week than at his previous 720 metre run but he is likely to continue mixing his distances.
“I am lucky he can both sprint and stay and I’ll play it by ear on a week-to-week basis as to whether he is nominated for 520m or 720m races at Wenty.’’
Trainer Andrew Bayliss believes Velvet Flame can run 5.42 to the first mark at Wentworth Park in Saturday night’s fifth heat of the Ladbrokes.com.au Sprint and hopes that will be good enough for her to lead throughout.
“Although she has been unplaced at her past two starts Velvet Flame is going well enough to win this race, " he said.
"She can run a 5.42 first split and that should enable her to lead at the first turn.
“She is a lot better drawn in box three than she was last Saturday when she had box eight and finished sixth to her kennelmate Spanky’s Legacy.
“Even then she was running third when she got a knock on the home turn so I was satisfied with her run.’’
Lemon Tree Girl will appreciate having an empty box on her outside when she contests Saturday night’s seventh heat of the Ladbrokes.
That’s the opinion of trainer Caroline Hughes, who said yesterday that Lemon Tree Girl was “feeling especially well this week.’’
“Lemon Tree Girl has box four but with box five vacant she has a better chance of getting a clear run from the start to the first bend without another dog worrying her," Hughes said.
“Hopefully Lemon Tree Girl, who is a good beginner will be up near the lead, because Doreen Drynan’s greyhound Take It All is a strong finisher so is an obvious danger to my bitch.’’
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Priceless (Race 3)
Best Value: Lemon Tree Girl (Race 10)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 3, 1, 6
Race 6 – 2, 1, 4
Race 7 – 1, 4
Race 8 – 3, 1, 4
$20 for 37.03%
