Recent Group 1 National Derby winner Magic Spring is set to wind up his Golden Easter Egg preparation by leading throughout in Saturday night's Paint The Town Red Free For All at Wentworth Park.
While the greyhound (pictured) has won seven of his 13 starts from wide draws, trainer Noelene Holloway is delighted he has drawn box one on Saturday night.
"Give me box one for Magic Spring any day,'' Holloway said. "I trialled him at Wentworth Park after the last race last Saturday night and he recorded 30.14. Then on Tuesday Magic Spring had a hit-out up the straight which should top him off nicely for this week's race.''
Magic Spring finished seventh at his most recent Wentworth Park race but that failure can be discarded as the dog drew box five and veered to the left at the start, colliding with the inside division and losing all chance.
His Wentworth Park record remains at an outstanding 10 wins and seven placings from 28 appearances, including a win on January 30.
Holloway is also up-beat about the prospects of Magic Spring's litter brother and kennelmate One Samuel, who has box six in the Sheeno's Last Punt Stakes on Saturday night.
"I thought One Samuel was unlucky not to win when he finished second at Wenty last Saturday night,'' Holloway said. "He was finishing strongly coming to the home bend but went for a rails run that wasn't there and got checked.
"Taking that into account One Samuel did well to be beaten only a length.
"He dived for the rails from his box seven draw last week and while he has box six on Saturday the fact that box five is vacant is a huge plus for him.
"When I slipped Magic Spring up the straight on Tuesday I also gave One Samuel a hit-out which should have him right at his best for Saturday night's race.''
One trainer pleased to have his greyhound in box six on Saturday night is Dean Swain, who prepares forthcoming New Sensation candidate Tilly">Tilly's Boy.
Tilly's Boy will carry the green rug in the GEE Noms Close 3/3 Stakes and Swain believes the dog is well draw.
"He is drawn out where he wants to be, he likes to be boxed wide,'' Swain said.
"At his first 520m hit-out this year Tilly's Boy trialled last week at Wenty and went nicely.
"His first split was a fast 5.40 and while he took 30.38 to cover the 520m I was satisfied with that time.
"The track was slow and it was only to be expected that the dog would get tired in the run home because he was very fresh.
"He will be a lot better for the run.''
Ritza Rossi, who finished third to La Grand Logie in a heat of the Group 3 Richmond Derby last Friday, should relish a huge drop in class in Saturday night's second heat of the Ladbrokes Sprint Series.
Ritza Rossi's flaw is his lack of early speed but the dog plunges from top to fifth grade on Saturday so should only need a reasonably clear passage from box five to win.
The Mark Gatt-trained greyhound defeated Bessy Boo in a Wentworth Park Free For All on February 3 and his third in the Richmond Derby heat indicates he is going just as well now.
Ritza Rossi has been well placed by Gatt as he is a winner of seven Wentworth Park races and boasts a personal best time of 29.77.
His seven rivals on Saturday night have won only 14 races between them and none have been able to match Ritza Rossi's best Wentworth Park time.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: One Samuel (Race 11)
Best Value: Magic Spring (Race 8)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 4, 2, 6
Race 6 - 6, 7
Race 7 - 3, 4, 5
Race 8 - 1, 6, 8
$20 for 37.03
