The long anticipated first long-distance test of triple track record breaker Mr. Shire highlights an action-packed Wentworth Park card on Saturday night.
Mr Shire, who has won 11 of 20 races and has become close to invincible over 600m at the provincials, steps up to 720m for the first time in the Donator Appreciation Stakes (race five).
And trainer Bob McColm has given his greyhound a thorough preparation for the event, giving Mr Shire every chance to win first-up as a stayer.
"I took him down to Wenty and gave him a hand-slip in front of the 720m starting boxes so Mr Shire would have gone about 700m,'' McColm said.
"I wanted to familiarise him with racing through the catching pen twice and going around three turns.
"He has box eight on Saturday and that's great.
"Mr Shire has broken two different track records on three occasions when he has drawn wide.
"He will run straight from the starting boxes until he gets an opportunity to work his way over to the rails.
"Being drawn on the outside means he won't be crowded up in the field early.''
Mr Shire should kick off Saturday night's quaddie in successful style for facvourite backers.
Blue Revolver, runner-up to Let It Develop in last Sunday night's thrilling Canberra Cup, could have too much early dash for veteran Bessy Boo (pictured) in the third quaddie leg, the 520m Ladbrokes Appreciation Stakes.
Bessy Boo, who has had 28 wins and 36 placings from a remarkable 100 Wentworth Park 520m appearances, will be favourite after drawing close to ideally in box two.
But Blue Revolver, chasing his 17th win and his third at Wentworth Park, is also nicely positioned in box seven.
"He recovered really well after his close second in the Canberra Cup,'' trainer Preston Rowles said. "Blue Revolver is feeling a million dollars at present - he has never been better.
"Boxes don't matter much to him and he will run in a straight line to the first turn, he won't try and cut across sharply.''
Mr Shire's litter brother Mister Cowora, who boasts the outstanding record of eight wins and five placings from 13 starts, returns to Wentworth Park in the fourth quaddie leg, the 520m Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes.
Mr Shire's trainer Bob McColm and Jim McGlinn, who prepares Mister Cowora, are close friends and will travel to Wentworth Park together from the Hunter Valley.
"Mister Cowora has box seven and would be better suited drawn nearer the rails but is so good he can win from any box,'' McColm said.
"He just has to begin cleanly.''
But Mister Cowora may need to do that just if he is to defeat the ideally positioned Good Odds Bricky, who has box one.
Good Odds Bricky won his only race from the rails trap and is in grand form, having been beaten only a length by Blue Revolver in a Canberra Cup heat on September 4.
One of the night's interesting clashes comes in the opening event, the 520m Cantheban Stakes, with Winsome Spring in box one and Brooklyn Bad in eight.
Each is ideally positioned and Winsome Spring has won five of eight starts with Brooklyn Bad's tally of four wins from eight appearances.
Current form favours Brooklyn Bad, who was a good third at Bulli on September 10, a week after Winsome Spring had finished down the course at the same track.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Wednesday picks:
Best Bet: Mr Shire (Race 5)
Best Value: Blue Revolver (Race 7)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 8, 6, 1
Race 6 - 6, 2, 5
Race 7 - 7, 2
Race 8 - 1, 7, 5
$20 for 37.03%
