Dyna Maddie is tipped to continue the winning big race streak of Australia's most successful trainer Andrea Dailly in Saturday night's National Futurity but Pedro Cerrano is set to give veteran John Little his first Group winner in 60 years' training in the National Derby.
The pair of Group 1 races highlight the Wentworth Park card, with Dyna Maddie going into the Futurity final as the fastest qualifier following an eight lengths heat win in 29.70.
Dyna Maddie outrailed and outstayed her rivals after exiting box two in her heat and while nicely positioned in box three in the final faces a tougher task.
Sawadee and Lochinvar Amour led Dyna Maddie in the early stages of her heat but both ran wide, presenting the Dailly-trained flyer with a dream run along the rails.
Dyna Maddie's toughest opponents on Saturday night could be NSW Northern Rivers trained duo CASH">CASH In Motion and Mitcharlie Mia, who have boxes four and five respectively.
CASH in Motion won last year's group 3 Ipswich Gold Cuop and placed in the recent Group 2 Gosford Gold Cup and trainer Bob Cooke is not frightened of Dyna Maddie's challenge.
"If my greyhound comes out of the boxes correctly she can definitely beat the favourite," he said.
"I obviously want her to jump cleanly and while she missed the start before winning her heat, CASH In Motion is capable of being the pacemaker if she steps away.
"Mitcharlie Mia, who has box five, will run straight from the boxes to the first turn so CASH In Motion might get a nice run.
"I have been training greyhounds since 1998 and this will be my first starter in a Wentworth Park Group race final.''
Mitch Northfield, trainer of Mitcharlie Mia said he hoped CASH in Motion would start well.
"I want CASH In Motion to begin well because if she does I believe she will head left and give Mitcharlie Mia a clear go," he said.
"Mitcharlie Mia can begin quickly and she led early in the Woy Woy Poultry Gold Cup at Gosford.
"I owned Go Wild Bean, who finished third in the 2006 Group 1 Golden Easter Egg final at Wenty, but Mitcharlie Mia will be my first group one contestant as an owner-trainer.''
Fastest qualifier for the National Derby is Good Odds Ocker, who won his heat in 29.67, but trainer Tracey Hurst believes her keen railer will need "a lot of luck'' to win the final from box eight.
Quickest sectional times in the Derby heats were posted by Asa Killa Queen, prepared by Sydney's most successful trainer Anthony Azzopardi.
Despite his greyhound's box four draw Azzopardi is confident Asa Killa Queen will make the pace but believes he will need to lead "by four lengths'' on the back straight.
"Asa Killa Queen has been beginning quickly," Azzopardi said. "He can run dazzling splits but if Nangar Flame (pictured) or Good Odds Ocker are sitting behind him in the middle stages we're gone.
"Asa Killa Queen is a 29.80 dog around Wenty but that pair can run 29.50.''
Pedro Cerrano has a near ideal box two draw and while his sectional times in the heats were slower than those posted by Asa Killa Queen and Spritely Dancer, he is a noted front runner.
"If Pedro Cerrano nails the start like he usually does he is going to be hard to beat,'' trainer John Little said.
"I'm hoping he can lead or be sitting just behind Asa Killa Queen at the first turn because if that happens I think he will win.
"But I don't want Good Odds Ocker or Nangar Flame to be anywhere near Pedro Cerrano early because they would probably be too strong for him.''
My best wager on Saturday night though is in race two, a fifth grade, where the DAVE Irwin-trained Fancy Dancer will strive to maintain her unbeaten box eight record.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
For Sportsbet's odds on Wentworth Park Saturday, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Fancy Dancer (Race 2)
Best Value: Pedro Cerrano (Race 8)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 1, 4, 2
Race 6 - 3, 4, 5
Race 7 - 4, 2
Race 8 - 2, 7, 4
$20 for 37.03%
