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Paua To Roar only has to begin cleanly to have a great chance of giving Victoria-bound trainer Steve White a fitting farewell to Wentworth Park in Saturday night's Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint final (520m).
On sectional times Paua To Roar (pictured, yellow rug) will lead easily providing he steps away cleanly from box eight.
White, who scored a win in this race last year with Tommy Brislane, is moving interstate shortly and is hoping to sign off in style.
"If he begins he should at least run a place or hopefully win because this will probably be my last visit to Wentworth Park as a NSW-based trainer,'' the trainer said.
"Paua To Roar pulled up well after his all-the-way heat win and is as fit as a fiddle.
"My only concern is that while Paua To Roar has been beginning smartly, even good box dogs can occasionally miss the jump from box eight at Wenty.''
In his heat win Paua To Roar clocked near record first and second splits of 5.32 and 13.66.
These were an improvement on his still explosive 5.37 and 13.77 sectionals from his previous start, when he was run down by Smart Missile.
Anthony Azzopardi is the only trainer with two starters and while the box draw has not been kind to his duo, he gives Uno Suzie (box four) and My Boy Snoop (box three) good chances.
"My Boy Snoop used to want to run three or four dogs off the fence at the first turn but as he has got older he is railing much better,'' Azzopardi said.
"Box three is not as bad as it appears, although having said that My Boy Snoop can miss the start at times. If he does that on Saturday he will be in strife.
"Uno Suzie, who won the Black Top and Canberra Cup recently, is going so well she is a definite live chance.
"But I believe Brad Hill Billy is the greyhound we all have to beat.
"He is a terrific greyhound and looks well positioned in box two so if he is going to win a major Group final this could be it.''
Worst drawn finalists are Ritza Rossi, Funky Punk and Lady Livingston in boxes five, six and seven respectively, but Goldengrove Lad's rails slot gives him solid claims.
Lord Licrick appeals as Saturday night's best bet after drawing box two in the wentworthpark.com.au/events Stakes.
The Robert Green-trained dog is in his career best form and overcame a slow getaway from box three to win a fifth grade at WP last Saturday night in 30.07.
He has a great draw this week as he is a keen railer and has the luxury of having noted slow starter Private Road in box one.
"Lord Licrick is not a fast beginner but I have not seen him jump as poorly as he did last week," Robert Green's wife Jenny said. "Hopefully he will get away better here."
"Since his win last week, Lord Licrick has done what he always does, running up and down a 400m straight four times every second day.
"If we don't let him do that he is completely over-the-top, barking non-stop.
"Letting him tear and up and down the straight, not behind the lure of course, is the only way to keep him calm.''
While Paua To Roar looks Saturday night's best value bet, Sheba's Diva (box four, Hargraves Hounds Stakes) and Brucin It (box seven, Family Xmas Night Stakes) have good early pace and can "pinch'' their races at good odds.
Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint (520m) Box Draw (Sportsbet Price in brackets): 1. Goldengrove Lad ($6) 2. Brad Hill Billy ($2.90) 3. My Boy Snoop ($7); 4. Uno Suzie ($4); 5. Ritza Rossi ($13); 6. Funky Punk ($10); 7. Lady Livingstone ($51); 8. Paua To Roar ($4.50). 1R: Knight Sprite ($7.50), 2R: My Gangsta ($34).
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Lord Licrick (Race 4)
Best Value: Paua To Roar (Race 8)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 8, 1
Race 6 - 5, 2, 3
Race 7 - 2, 1, 7
Race 8 - 8, 2, 1
$20 for 37.03%
