Lightning Frank has not won in five races while wearing the blue rug but trainer Matt Wright is confident the greyhound will shake off his box four hoodoo in Saturday night's final of the Group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby at Wentworth Park (race eight, 520m).
Lightning Frank (pictured) is favourite after leading throughout to win his heat from box three and Wright says the dog will be at his peak in the final.
"It was early in his career when Lightning Frank was beaten from box four and he is a different dog now,'' Wright said.
"He previously had a few issues at the start but is beginning much better these days.''
Angela Langton, the only trainer with two National Derby finalists, concedes Lightning Frank is the dog to beat.
"My finalists Duty Free and Hit The Highway can run around the 30 second mark at The Meadows, in my home state of Victoria, but Lightning Frank can clock 29.60 there,'' Langton said.
"Nangar Rock's 29.88 heat win was quicker than Lightning Frank's time of 29.96 but the track was far slower when Lightning Frank raced and in a trial and his only race at Wenty, Lightning Frank has jumped smartly.
"Maybe he likes the boxes in Sydney.
"I was happy with Hit The Highway's heat win and with Duty Free's second placing behind Lightning Frank but while they have drawn boxes three and two respectively, I would have preferred them boxed the other way around.
"Duty Free gets wide in the run to the first turn and I am concerned he might hamper Hit The Highway in the early stages.''
Saturday night's other Group 1 final, the Ladbrokes National Futurity (race six, 520m), is considered a match race between fastest heat winner Up Hill Jill (box two) and STRIKER Light (box one).
Up Hill Jill led throughout to win her heat in 29.87, the fastest time of the night, while STRIKER Light, who has clocked 30.01 at Wentworth Park, overcame a poor start to win in 30.46.
"Up Hill Jill is raring to go and when I got her out of her kennel on Wednesday she charged towards the van in which I take her to the races, she was so keen to get cracking again,'' trainer David Geall said.
"If anything I am happier with Up Hill Jill's condition now than I was last week and while box two is great, I am slightly concerned about STRIKER Light being drawn alongside her.
"STRIKER Light has missed the jump at her past two starts but she is due to nail the start and if she does I am worried she and Up Hill Jill might bring each other unstuck because they can both go very fast to the first turn.''
In the Futurity heats Up Hill Jill's second and third sectional times of 13.69 and 17.89 were clearly the fastest but it is worth remembering that STRIKER Light recorded 13.68 and 17.80 when she led throughout in a heat of the Paws Of Thunder at WP on January 14.
Trainer Mark Gatt, who became a father for the second time last weekend, is hoping to celebrate with a winning double at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Gatt has five runners but is especially keen on the chances of Notorious One, who has box one in race one, and Chaser, who will carry the red rug in race two.
"Notorious One loves the rails and being in an early race is a huge bonus for him,'' Gatt said.
"While Chaser seems to begin better from outside draws he is ideally placed in box one and I was rapt in his third placing behind Hit The Highway and Dyna Boomer in his heat of the Derby last week.
"Chaser made the pace but the two strongest dogs in the race sat right behind him and in finishing third Chaser covered the 520m in 30.04, which was the fifth fastest time by any dog in the five Derby heats.''
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Chaser (Race 2)
Best Value: Notorious One (Race 1)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 1, 7
Race 6 - 2, 1
Race 7 - 4, 1, 2, 8
Race 8 - 4, 2, 3
$20 for 41.66%
