Group 2 Richmond Derby winner Knight Sprite has trialled faster than ever in the lead-up to Saturday night's sixth heat of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park.
The in-form son of Magic Sprite and Jaydo's Neglect scored his second Group 2 title in thrilling fashion at Richmond last Friday night - his third consecutive victory and a 24th from 50 starts overall.
"I trialled Knight Sprite (pictured) on Tuesday morning at the Redhead Trial Track, where he always does his pre-race preparation, and he went faster than he has ever gone,'' trainer Gayle Masterson said.
"After his Richmond Derby win last Friday night I had him checked out for any sign or soreness and he was given the all clear.''
Knight Sprite is considered among the leading NSW hopes of repelling the annual Golden Easter Egg invasion of Victorian stars, who have won the past six Egg finals.
But Masterson is delighted not only with Knight Sprite's fitness and form but with his box eight draw on Saturday night.
"He loves box eight,'' Masterson added.
Knight Sprite's statistics back up Masterson's contention as the dog has won four of his eight starts while wearing the pink rug.
Dyna Double One has seemingly been retired following his win in last Saturday's Australian Cup but his trainer Andrea Dailly still has nine greyhounds entered for Saturday night's Easter Egg heats.
Her husband Tom rates Dawkins Bale (box one, heat three), who chased home his kennelmate Fernando Bale in last year's Easter Egg final, as his best chance in the heats.
"He is perfectly boxed and is going exceptionally well at present," Dailly said.
Dailly also rates Marley Bale, who has box one in heat one, Elfen Bale (box five, heat eight) and Snakebite Bale (box four, heat nine) as strong chances.
"Marley Bale is perfectly drawn and Elfen Bale, who likes Wenty, is a good beginner who is very hard to beat when she gets to the front," Dailly said.
"We have a high opinion of Snakebite Bale but his problem is that although he runs home powerfully, he is not a good beginner.''
Former Sydney trainer Anthony Azzopardi has high hopes of winning an Easter Egg heats double with Zambora Brockie, winner of the 2015 Group 1 Vic Peters Classic, and the much improved Asa Killa Queen.
Zambora Brockie has box three in heat four while Asa Killa Queen, who has won his past four starts at Bendigo, Ballarat, Warrnambool and Geelong, has box one in heat eight.
"Zambora Brockie has taken a while to work out the different starts on the Melbourne tracks but he won at The Meadows last Saturday night,'' Azzopardi said.
"Asa Killa Queen, whose past four wins have been in the fastest times of the night, is absolutely flying.
"I'm rapt in his box one draw but I'm also happy to see Zambora Brockie drawn where he is.''
While there are 10 Golden Easter Egg heats on Saturday night's 11-race Wentworth Park card, the night's safest wager looms in the opening event, the 720m wentworthpark.com.au Stakes.
Victorian trainer Jamie Ennis, who won the 2014 Golden Easter Egg with Tonk, has his exciting stayer Esparza">Esparza in box five.
"I'm bringing Esparza to Wenty to give her a look at the track in preparation for the Group 1 Association Cup heats on March 19,'' Ennis said.
"I believe she is capable of clocking 41.80 or 41.90 over the Wentworth Park 720m trip because she is all class and was beaten a neck by Star Recall in the Group 1 Stayers Cup at The Meadows last Saturday night.
"I reckon Star Recall would be a long odds-on favourite if she was in this Saturday's Wenty race.
"Esparza's lack of Wentworth Park experience should not be a problem because she invariably races well at her first run on a track.
"Although she has box five she should get room to move as box six is vacant and another Victorian greyhound, Crhrichton Bale, who has drawn seven, is a wide runner.''
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
For Sportsbet's prices on the Golden Easter Egg heats, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday heats:
Best Bet: Esparza (Race 1)
Best Value: Dawkins Bale (Race 4)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 3, 1, 6
Race 6 - 8, 6, 4
Race 7 - 8, 3
Race 8 - 1, 5, 2
$20 for 37.03%
