Kelly Bravo is unconcerned her recent Bulli Gold Cup winner Kayda Shae will go into Saturday night's sixth heat of the Rapidvite Peter Mosman Classic without having previously seen the Wentworth Park track.
Following his run away win in the Group 2 Bulli feature on May 29, Kayda Shae has box seven for his Wentworth Park debut in the Group 1 age-restricted series.
It should be a terrific night at Wentworth Park, with the heats also featuring the likes of Group winners Fernando Bale (pictured), Elfen Bale and Spacecraft.
This will Victorian Kayda Shae's racing debut at Wentworth Park but Bravo believes he can win a tough-looking sixth heat.
"Because of the Bulli heat and final I didn't have time to fit in a Wentworth Park trial but I don't think that will worry Kayda Shae,'' the trainer said.
"The dog had never seen Sandown before he won there in 29.26 and while his form on big tracks is very good he can also handle tighter courses.
"He has not raced at The Meadows but he trialled well there and I don't mind him out in box seven on Saturday.
"Although I expect Kayda Shae will want to work his way over to the rails he handles wide draws okay.''
Kayda Shae gives Victoria a strong second string to the all-conquering Fernando Bale, who returns to Wentworth Park in heat five of the Peter Mosman.
Although he has box five Fernando Bale, chasing his 15th win from his past 16 starts, looks nicely positioned.
Tiggerlong Killa (box four) is a slow beginner who likes to rail while the speedy Dana Kis (box six) tends to run wide.
Trainer Andrea Dailly's husband Tom was less than happy about Fernando Bale's past two Sandown wins on May 14 and 21 and was pleased the dog was able to have a let up before Saturday night's race.
"He had a couple of little niggling problems and the gap between his last Sandown run and Wentworth Park on Saturday worked out perfectly for him,'' Dailly said.
Fernando Bale's toughest opponent on Saturday night should be Kihael Kaluna, making his debut for new trainer Mark Gatt out of box eight.
"I had him ready to race three weeks ago but a virus went through my kennels so I had to postpone his first start for me until now,'' Gatt said.
"I think Kihael Kaluna will be a better greyhound in a month's time but he is going well and he clocked 29.80 at Wentworth Park at his last trial.''
Gatt also has strong claims with Ritza Rossi who has box eight in heat eight.
"I like him drawn out there,'' Gatt said. "He has always shown terrific ability but in his first few starts he wasn't hitting the line all that well.
"But he got home in 11.68 when he won at Wenty last week and I didn't think he had that in him.
"To record 29.81 overall was a big effort because he got ankle tapped at the first turn.''
One of the most interesting debutants in the Peter Mosman is former Tasmanian Elite Enfield, who has his first Wentworth Park start for trainer Jason Magri in heat three.
"His first trial for me at Wenty was awful but he has improved with each run and last week was beaten three or four lengths in 29.80 in a hit-out at Wentworth Park,'' Magri said.
"Elite Enfield has good early speed so I think he can make the pace from box four and if he does he has a good chance of stealing this race.''
Another front runner expected to take catching is the Luke Azzopardi-trained Estranged in heat two of the Classic.
Estranged has box six and Azzopardi said he prefers seeing the dog drawn wide.
"Since he led throughout in a Bulli Cup Consolation on May 29 I have kept him fresh because he needs to be able to show his early speed,'' Azzopardi said.
"I would rather see him lead and get run down than blunt his pace with too many trials and flatten him.
"I gave Estranged a hit-out up my straight track this week and he absolutely flew, the best he has ever gone.''
My best bet on Saturday is the Noelene Holloway-trained Queen Esther who will be good odds from box six in the AAA Radiator Specialists Stakes.
Holloway has placed Queen Esther to perfection, with the greyhound winning 14 Wentworth Park races.
This is a fifth grade race and Queen Esther has a good record from box six having won three of her eight starts wearing the green rug.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Queen Esther (Race 10)
Best Value: Estranged (Race 2)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 5, 8
Race 6 - 7, 6, 5
Race 7 - 6, 3, 1
Race 8 - 5, 4
$20 for 55.55%
