Wentworth Park stars Falcon's Fury and Little Nangar along with recent Orange Cup winner Kilkee May spearhead four top-quality heats of today's Ladbrokes Bathurst Gold Cup (520m).
The trio are among a host of class performers involved in the heats, which all look crackers.
Megalodon">Megalodon, who is unbeaten in two races since resuming from a long injury-enforced spell, looks the one to beat in heat three.
Megalodon won at Wentworth Park in a smart 30.04 in January 2016, but is going as well as ever according to trainer Lynne Aldous.
"It has been a long, hard road getting her back after six months on the sidelines but she resumed to win at Gosford on January 5 and then won at her first Bathurst start on January 23,'' Aldous said.
"I was especially pleased with the Bathurst win as the only time Megalodon had previously seen the track was in a trial when she was a youngster.''
Nacho Nellie has not raced at Bathurst but a fast trial there last Monday puts her into contention in heat four of the Cup.
The consistent Nacho Nellie, who has had 18 starts at Wentworth Park for six wins, six seconds and two thirds, has box three but trainer Peter Rodgers is not concerned at the draw.
"She is no world-beater but every time I put her in the starting boxes I know she is going to run a heck of a race,'' Rodgers said. "I took Nacho Nellie to Bathurst last Monday for a post-to-post hand-slip and she flew.
"She didn't need to have a trial out of the boxes because she is a lid-pinger.
"I have always had a bit of luck at Bathurst where I have twice trained the winners of the Soldiers Saddle, while another of my greyhounds, Cloudy Nite, finished second in the 2006 Bathurst Cup final.''
Kennelmates Rubelly Magic and She's Grand are two of the fastest beginners in NSW and their trainer Rodney O'Brien is up-beat about their prospects in heats one and four.
"Rubelly Magic won a heat and semi-final of the Bathurst Soldiers Saddle late last year and although she turns four in April she is racing as keenly as ever,'' O'Brien said.
"Bathurst is a track which suits front-runners like my pair and while Rubelly Magic has won 25 races, I am especially keen on She's Grand's chances.
"She's Grand has been placed in each of two Bathurst races and when she finished third there in an Orange Cup heat on January 16 she made the pace and recorded a first split of 4.19.
"That is as good as Rubelly Magic has run there and I think She's Grand is capable of breaking the 30-second barrier if she gets a clear run this week.
First and second in the heats will qualify for the $12,000 to the winner final over 520m at Bathurst on Monday, February 13.
For Bathurst Monday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
