-2002.JPG)
A drop in class should put track star Opus Forte into the Wentworth Park winners' list for the 12th time on Saturday night.
Opus Forte, who has had 36 starts in town for 11 wins and 14 placings, has box four in the fourth and fifth grade ladbrokes.com.au Stakes (race eight).
"He is trialling as well as ever but in his past four top grade appearances at Wenty he has drawn badly,'' trainer Luke Azzopardi said.
"When you are racing greyhounds of the calibre of Chica Destacada you can't afford to put a foot wrong and Opus Forte has found his share of trouble.
"But in the past, whenever he has dropped back in grade he has raced enormously well.''
At his most recent appearance in a fourth and fifth class event Opus Forte came from box five at Wentworth Park on October 24 to win in a sizzling 29.74.
Miss Foxy Lee will be striving to maintain her unbeaten record when she makes her Wentworth Park debut in Saturday's opening event, the 520m wentworthpark.com.au Stakes.
Dean Swain's greyhound has won each of four starts over 400m and 450m at Maitland and trialled nicely at Wentworth Park on Tuesday night.
"She clocked 30.09 for the 520m, recording 5.50 to the first mark but coming home in a strong 11.89,'' trainer Dean Swain said.
"Miss Foxy Lee got a bit lost during the trial which is understandable considering she was having her first look at the track.
"Box five on Saturday night should be all right providing Miss Britt, who has box six and can begin fast, doesn't knock her over at the start.''
Cooranbong trainer Beau Hedley has bright prospects of winning a double Wentworth Park on Saturday night with Avondale As, who has box eight in the Xmas Night Stakes and Wentworth Park rookie Heir Of King (box four in the Rapidvite Stakes).
Avondale As was a luckless third to Tilly's Boy at his most recent Wentworth Park outing on November 18.
"Box eight is okay - I'd rather him be drawn out there than anywhere else in a race like this," Hedley said.
"At his last start he was up at the front of the boxes and was going to jump smartly but at the last minute he stepped back and missed the kick.
"He is very fit, though, and trialled well over 400m at The Gardens on Tuesday.''
While Heir Of King has not raced at Wentworth Park Hedley revealed the dog had trialled well at the track.
"When he was a puppy he clocked 30 second flat after running a nippy first split of 5.45,'' Hedley said. "A week later, though, he blew the start and didn't trial anywhere near as well.
"Saturday's race looks a nice one for Heir Of King and having a vacant box on his outside won't hurt.''
Heir Of King is a last start winner, scoring in a slick 29.93 over 515m at The Gardens on November 13.
Myalla Monaro has been unplaced at his past four starts but trainer Steve Cleary gives the dog a strong chance in the 520m Ladbrokes Bet Better Stakes because of his box one draw.
The greyhound has won five of his 12 starts from the rails alley and was successful over 400m at Richmond at his most recent appearance in the red rug.
"I trialled him at Lithgow on Tuesday and he broke six seconds for the first split which pleased me,'' Cleary said.
"Myalla Monaro just has not been able to get to the fence in his latest races but he is going as well as when he won at Wenty in June.
"His sister and kennelmate Myalla Nitro won at Wentworth Park on November 14 and Myalla Monaro went faster than her when I trialled them at Lithgow on Tuesday.''
Saturday night's Free For All looks a match between the ideally drawn duo Fantastic Spiral, a good railer in box one, and wide running Are Jip (box eight).
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Opus Forte (Race 8)
Best Value: Avondale As (Race 3)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 8, 4, 2
Race 6 - 5, 2, 8
Race 7 - 1, 8
Race 8 4, 1, 7
$20 for 37.03%
