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Unraced juveniles El Magnifico and Buck Forty are tipped to star when the cream of Sydney's maiden crop do battle in Wednesday night's heats of the gapnsw.com.au Series (520m) at Wentworth Park.
The Julie Fletcher-trained El Magnifico has box four in heat one while Buck Forty, from the David Pringle kennel, has box seven in heat four.
El Magnifico has been impressive in two Bulli performance trials and went well in a recent 520m hit-out at Wentworth Park, while Buck Forty almost broke the Dubbo 516m record in a performance trial last week.
"He got within .01 of the record and he is something special,'' trainer Pringle said of Buck Forty. "If he had drawn an inside box at Wenty he would have been unbeatable but I still think he will win despite his wide draw.
"I don't think he will crash across too hard and he is a good beginner.''
El Magnifico trialled 30.28 at his first look at Wentworth Park on a very slow track.
"We think it was the equal to a 30 seconds flat performance on a good surface,'' Bruce Fletcher, the trainer's husband said. "After looking at replays of his rivals I don't think El Magnifico is badly boxed because the dogs drawn around him should not worry him early.
"We have a huge opinion of El Magnifico. We think he is the complete package.''
The Mark Gatt-trained Aquisition, who is widely experienced and has been placed at Wentworth Park, will be favourite from box two in heat two but faces stiff opposition from the Bob McColm-prepared Mr Shire.
McColm trained Mr Clydesdale to win 11 races at Wentworth Park and has retained the "draught horse'' name for Mr Shire.
"He is not as good as Mr Clydesdale but Mr Shire is pretty smart,'' McColm said.
"In a post-to-post trial at Wenty he clocked 24.52, which is good time for a maiden, and last Sunday Mr Shire recorded a blistering 29.52 in a 515m trial at The Gardens.
"Mr Shire's only problem is he is slow early but if he finds the rails without being checked they'll know he is there.
"He is very strong at the finish and will run just a few centimetres off the fence.''
Nangar Veiw will be all the rage from box one in heat three following a fast 24.81sec 440m performance trial at Goulburn on December 15.
Making his first public appearance, Nangar Veiw took the lead at the first turn and railed perfectly before coming away for an easy win.
A drop in class makes Wairo Bob a good value option in race five, a fourth and fifth grade 520m event.
Wairo Bob bungled the start and came from a distant sixth on the back straight to beat all but the placegetters in Nangar Flame's tougher Wentworth Park race on December 16.
"Last week he knuckled over at the start but I was pleased with the way he kept digging in,'' Wairo Bob's trainer Neil Staines said.
"He is capable of beginning fast and if he does that on Wednesday I think he will go close to winning.''
The David Pringle-trained Old Timer won his first five starts at the provincials but was beaten into third place at his Wentworth Park debut on December 16.
The dog has box seven in race nine, a 520m fifth grade on Wednesday, and should make amends.
"Last week he raced as if he had never seen the track but he had trialled 30 seconds there a month earlier,'' Pringle said. "On Wednesday Old Timer should only need to come through the first turn unscathed to give this race a shake.''
Best bet on Wednesday should be Wild Fire, who has box two in a 720m fourth and fifth grade event.
Wild Fire has won four races from the number two trap and was a fast finishing third over 520m at his most recent WP outing, following a desperately unlucky third in a 600m Gosford event on December 15.
For Wentworth Park Wednesday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Wednesday picks:
Best Bet: Wild Fire (Race 7)
Best Value: Wairo Bob (Race 5)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 4, 5, 2
Race 6 - 8, 3, 6
Race 7 - 2, 7
Race 8 - 5, 1, 2
$20 for 37.03%
