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Lithgow Panther's ranking as Sydney's top stayer goes on the line at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
John Chapman's greyhound takes on More In Store and Irinka Lylea in the Ladbrokes Monthly Medal Stakes (720m, race five).
Lithgow Panther staged a last-to-first performance to win in 42.23 from an unsuitable wide draw at his most recent Wentworth Park start and has a near perfect box two on Saturday.
Since his Wentworth Park win on July 18, Lithgow Panther has been to Melbourne where he finished fifth over 715m at Sandown.
But Chapman said his greyhound, who has secured 15 wins and 11 minor placings from 37 starts, is as good as ever for Saturday night.
"He drew box six at Sandown and did not get a crack at them at any stage,'' the trainer. "Because he had never seen the track he got a bit lost.
"The Panther is a greyhound who usually needs two or three looks at a place before he fully adapts and he has certainly done that at Wentworth Park.
"I drove to Melbourne with him and he travelled like a dream because the day after we got home I weighed him and he came in at 33.1kg, right on his best racing weight.''
More In Store won in 42.19 at her most recent Wentworth Park outing but she has drawn "the wrong side of the track'' in box eight for her meeting with Lithgow Panther.
"Box eight is not good because she won't leave the rails, but the small field of six will help her,'' More In Store's trainer Mark Gatt said.
Gatt is more confident about the prospects of Ritza Rossi, who has box six in the Find Us On Facebook Stakes.
Ritza Rossi was severely checked going through the catching pen but picked himself up to win in 29.98 at Wentworth Park last week.
"His run was massive," Gatt said. "I don't think he has produced a better effort.
"Ritza Rossi seems to be able to possie up better from an inside draw but box six is not too bad because he does like to go around his rivals.''
Two of the sport's fastest beginners clash in the Rapidvite Stakes with Are Jai Que (box three) meeting Premier Mozz in box five.
Are Jai Que, who has won 19 of 28 starts and four from six at Wentworth Park will be a warm favourite to prevail in their speed duel.
At her fourth run from a spell Are Jai Que led throughout to win in the best time of the night at Dapto on July 23.
"She has not trialled since because she works herself hard enough on my straight track,'' trainer Michael Clayton said.
"It is 400m long and she ran up and back twice a couple of days ago and of that 1600m she probably went at near top speed for 1400 metres.
"So she is fit enough, don't worry about that.''
Are Jai Que clocked her personal best Wentworth Park time of 29.98 in January but Clayton believes she is even better this preparation.
Brad Hill Billy has won his past three Wentworth Park starts from boxes six and seven but has been victorious despite, not due to, the wide draws.
The former Tasmanian, now with Ray Smith of FORBES, is "desperate'' for box one and should make full use of the inside alley in Saturday night's Free For All.
Brad Hill Billy won twice from box one in Tasmania and should get plenty of room to move on Saturday courtesy of Zipping Abby and Chica Destacada, in boxes two and three respectively.
That pair like to use a bit of the track and should ensure Brad Hill Billy is in front of Opus Forte, his main opponent on Saturday, when they reach the crucial first turn.
Opus Forte ran 29.53 two starts back and is currently in great form.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Asa Hard Knox (Race 11)
Best Value: Ritza Rossi (race 7)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 2, 8
Race 6 - 1, 5
Race 7 - 6, 7, 3
Race 8 - 5, 2, 6
$20 for 55.55%
