Funky Punk suffered a minor injury in a Canberra Cup Heat on September 6 but has trialled brilliantly on the eve of her return to Wentworth Park in Saturday night's third Heat of the Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint (520m).
The greyhound who is unbeaten in two starts from box one, will wear the red rug on Saturday night and trainer Jimmy Coyle expects her to go close to winning.
"She did not tear it but slightly injured a monkey muscle when she was pulled down from behind and finished fifth in her Canberra Cup Heat,'' Coyle said.
"That's why she was scratched from her race at Wentworth Park on September 9 but while I don't go to trial tracks with her between races I needed to learn if my treatment of the injury had worked.
"So I took her to Glengarrie Trial Track last Sunday morning and she clocked 23.80, which is flying. That's when I knew Funky Punk was ready to contest the Bob Payne.''
Trainer Luke Azzopardi admits to being disappointed with Opus Forte's third placing behind winner Brad Hill Billy in last Sunday's Canberra Cup Consolation but believes the dog will return to his best at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Opus Forte has box five in Heat two of the Bob Payne Spring Sprint but Azzopardi believes the draw is better than it looks on paper.
"I was disappointed with him at Canberra last Sunday but Opus Forte is a bad traveller,'' Azzopardi said. "He should be a different proposition at Wentworth Park because he knows that track so well, he feels at home there.
"Flash Earner might make the pace from box eight but there is not a lot of speed on the inside of my dog so he could get a clear run.
"I haven't done much with him this week because he has had plenty of racing and is very fit so I've let him relax by roaming around his paddock at home.''
Heat four is the strongest of the Bob Payne qualifiers but Brad Hill Billy, the fastest Wentworth Park winner in the field, can overcome box five to win.
"I know he had box one when he won at Wentworth Park in 29.37 but I'm not convince he wants inside,'' trainer Ray Smith said. "Because he is not a lid-pinger Brad Hill Billy's chances depend on what the dogs drawn around him do.
"He just needs to have the other dogs take him into race and he'll be right.
"Brad Hill Billy pulled up well afrer his win at Canberra last week and is as fit as ever.''
Standout bet in the Bob Payne Heats should be Knight Sprite, who has box one in Heat one.
Knight Sprite set up a big early lead before being run down by Opus Forte at Wentworth Park on September 9, but the winner clocked a sizzling 29.56.
And it should be remembered Knight Sprite was having his first start for nearly four weeks in that event as trainer Gayle Masterson had set her dog for the Bob Payne series.
Top value on Saturday night is the consistent Seven Jacks, who has finally drawn near the fence in box three in the third event fifth grade.
Seven Jacks had no luck when fourth, from box five, behind Premier Mozz at Wentworth Park last Saturday night in a similar fifth grade to the line-up he tackles on Saturday.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Knight Sprite (Race 5)
Best Value: Seven Jacks (Race 3)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 1, 5
Race 6 - 5, 1, 7
Race 7 - 1, 7, 8
Race 8 - 5, 4, 1
$20 for 37.03%
