Tap Out Rose did not win her heat but there was not a more impressive qualifier for tonight's Group 3 Evans & Son Jewellers Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park (520m, race eight) than the Rod Metselaar greyhound.
Tap Out Rose (pictured) went under by a head to Dokmai in her heat, however, her performance was nothing short of incredible and from box eight she has a great chance of winning tonight's feature
Fastest heat winner All A Blaze, who won in 29.87, has drawn poorly in box six with Fantastic Skye, a 29.91 qualifier, sure to be sent out a warm favourite from box one.
But even Fantastic Skye's trainer Jason Fletcher concedes Tap Out Rose, who went down in a pedestrian-like 30.81 in her heat, will be hard to beat.
"Fantastic Skye once led by three or four lengths down the back straight in a 525m final at The Meadows," he said. "I had the prize money spent, but Tap Out Rose ran over the top of my greyhound and won clearly so I know she is as strong as a lion.
"Box one is certainly a big asset for Fantastic Skye though as that is where she wants to be. She has the draw she wants and has come on nicely since her heat win.
"If she can hold out the speedy Too Many Daddys, who has box two, in the run to the first turn, Fantastic Skye will be hard to toss.
"I was supposed to shift my kennels from Appin to Nowra this week but have delayed the move until after the Ladies Bracelet because I did not want to do anything to upset Fantastic Skye's routine.
"In the lead up to big races it is important that every thing stays the same.''
Tap Out Rose's trainer Rod Metselaar is pleased with his greyhound's box eight draw.
"I like her drawn out there,'' Metselaar said. "Obviously the time was not there but I was stunned by Tap Out Rose's amazing heat performance.
"When she got smashed at the first turn my jaw nearly hit the ground.
"Then she was checked again and when Tap Out Rose had only one rival behind her entering the back straight I was resigned to her missing out on the final.
"Then when she took off, I thought maybe she might sneak into third spot, and next minute she was going to finish second and qualify for the big one. And in another stride or two she would have won!
"Tap Out Rose deserves to win a good race because she qualified for the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder final in January and finished third in the state final of the Group 1 National Sprint Championship last August.''
First reserve for the Ladies Bracelet Star Torana will get a start from box five in the feature event following the scratching of Dokmai due to injury.
While Tap Out Rose appeals as tonight's best value bet the night's star wager comes in the Free Entry For Women Stakes where Pippa Pepper is nicely positioned in box seven.
The Wayne Boreland-trained greyhound set Wentworth Park alight on April 20 when she overcame a slight check at the first turn to lead throughout in 29.79.
Pippa Pepper was the only greyhound to break the 30-second barrier at that meeting and posted a slick second split of 13.85 on her way to a 10-length win.
She had box three in that race but veered right at box rise so should relish her wide draw tonight
At her only subsequent start Pippa Pepper finished last in Fantastic Skye's Ladies Bracelet heat last week but that flop can be discarded.
Last Saturday night Pippa Pepper, who had box five, was badly hampered at the start when a greyhound on her outside attempted to cross sharply to the rails.
"Pippa Pepper has always shown a lot of ability but she can be a bit risky at box rise," Boreland's son Johnny said.
"We think she will run straight from the start to the first corner so box seven should be a good draw for her.
"If she jumps cleanly she should be hard to beat as while she had no luck last week she pulled up well and is ready for Saturday night.''
For Wentworth Park fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Pippa Pepper (Race 3)
Best Value: Tap Out Rose (Race 8)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 8, 7
Race 6 - 1, 7, 4
Race 7 - 5, 1, 2
Race 8 - 8, 1, 3
$20 for 37.03%
