Nangar Bear did not record the fastest time but there was not a more impressive performer in last week's heats of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic and he is set to take out Saturday night's second semi-final at Wentworth Park.
The Dennis Barnes-trained greyhound won his heat in 30.17 but would have gone quicker had he not been badly hampered when attempting to cross to the rails at the first turn.
On Saturday night Nangar Bear has box six but could get assistance in the run to the first corner from Chaser (box five) who is a tenacious railer.
"Boxes one, two or three would have been terrific but Nangar Bear has a lot of ability and is improving all the time,'' Barnes said.
"He had only one trial at Wenty before the heats and clocked 30.09 so considering he was pushed off at the first turn last week his effort was good.
"Nangar Bear is learning all the time.''
Ando's Mac, whose 29.72 effort was fastest of the 10 Vic Peters heats, will be favourite in the second semi but he has drawn awkwardly in box eight.
Ando's Mac led throughout from box three in his heat but he has won only one of his four races from the extreme outside draw so will need to begin smartly to take out Saturday's race.
Trainer Jason Magri's duo Clock's Ticking and Wicked Warrior dominate the betting on the first semi-final but they could be upstaged by the Frank Hurst-trained Shez Sublime.
Shez Sublime was a distant second in Ando's Mac's fastest 29.72 heat last Saturday when she drew box five.
A smart beginner, Shez Sublime finished determinedly and will relish the move to box one on Saturday night.
Shez Sublime has won two of her three races wearing the red rug and should be improved by last week's hitout.
"She was having her first 520 metre test in six weeks when she contested her heat,'' Hurst said.
"All I was able to give her leading up to last week's race was a post-to-post hand-slip at Wentworth Park and she went well, recording 24.20.''
Runway Bono, who caused a boilover winning his heat in a blistering 29.81, just .09 outside Ando's Mac's time standard, is ready to put in a repeat performance in the third Classic semi-final.
Runway Bono has box four but trainer Dean Swain does not believe the draw will worry his greyhound "providing he begins cleanly.''
"Since I gave Runway Bono three middle distance races in September the dog has been jumping better," Swain said.
"He has always had enormous ability but is now not only beginning better but is racing with a lot of confidence.
"I think Runway Bono has drawn possibly the easiest of the four semi-finals so if he gets room to move in the early stages there is no reason why can't win again.''
NSW-owned Benteke, trained in Victoria by big race specialist Brett Bravo, is fastest qualifier for the fourth semi-final.
Benteke showed plenty of grit to push through to the lead before winning his heat in 29.94 and will start favourite on Saturday night after drawing box two.
But the presence of speedy pair Arena Magic and Mack Tux, in boxes one and three, mean Benteke won't have an easy task in being able to grab the lead by the first corner.
Mister Twister, who like Ando's Mac is trained by Jason Mackay, has box four and can be expected to improve on his 29.97 heat win from box eight.
"When he won his heat he was having his first run from the starting boxes at Wenty as all he had previously at the track was a post-to-post slip,'' Mackay said.
Saturday night's best bet looms as Ritza Lenny, who has box four in the Free-For-All (race three).
The Mark Gatt-trained greyhound was desperately unlucky when fifth in Benteke's Vic Peters Classic heat last week and an easier race on Saturday should enable him to stretch his Wentworth Park tally to seven wins from 13 appearances.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Ritza Lenny (Race 3)
Best Value: Nangar Bear (Race 6)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 1, 3, 2
Race 6 - 6, 8
Race 7 - 4, 2, 8
Race 8 - 2, 4, 3
$20 for 37.03%
