The focus is on Sydney's top stayers tonight when Ebby Ripper, Starzsa Light and Miss Foxy Lee participate in a dress rehearsal for this month's Group 3 Wentworth Park Gold Cup.
Along with Melissa's Pride, Lovelace and Gunnadoo Cove, they clash in the Ladbrokes Monthly Medal Stakes over the Gold Cup journey of 720m (race four).
Heats of the Wentworth Park Gold Cup will be held on March 18 with the final a week later, while the Group 1 Association Cup will keep the spotlight on the stayers when it is held on April 8 and 15.
While Ebby Ripper, who has had four wins and three placings from eight long-distance races at Wentworth Park, is recognised as NSW's top long-distance performer, Starzsa Light is tipped to defeat her tonight.
"Starzsa Light has a magic box draw,'' trainer Dean Swain said. "From box two I expect her to go straight to the front because my other greyhound, Miss Foxy Lee, who has box three, will run straight, while Ebby Ripper, in box one, is a slow starter.
"Starzsa Light is a trainer's dream because she is a front running stayer who chases keenly from start to finish and who can run a strong 720 metres.
"Forget her third over 600m at Gosford">Gosford on Tuesday night as Starzsa Light found plenty of trouble from her wide box seven draw in that less suitable, shorter race.
"She pulled up beautifully after Gosford and is raring to go (tonight).''
Punters who took the $1.50 about Rohan Hill when that greyhound finished second at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night should "back up'' in tonight's second event - the 5th grade Jason 'Digger' Evans Stakes (520m).
Rohan Hill bungled the start from box seven on Wednesday and did well to beat all but Boomwah in an identical class line-up to his opposition tonight.
"He is usually a good beginner," trainer Jodie Lord said. "The only times he has missed the jump in a dozen starts have been in his two Wenty races
"Rohan Hill is only a young dog and is still getting used to Wentworth Park but everything should click with him shortly.''
Lord won a 520m 5th grade with Old Bailey on Wednesday at Wentworth Park and has "beaten the grader'' by having that greyhound in a similar race tonight.
Old Bailey, who led throughout from box one on Wednesday, has the early pace to overcome box four and lead all the way in the seventh event.
However Humble, one of Sydney's fastest beginners, resumes from a spell in tonight's third race - a Golden Easter Egg Prelude (520m).
However Humble, whose Wentworth Park record stands at four wins and eight placings from 18 starts, is ready to win first up according to owner Kerry Drynan.
"There has been nothing wrong with However Humble but I went away for a week and my mum Doreen, who trains our greyhounds, decided to give all the dogs a little break,'' Drynan said.
"However Humble needed a gallop this week so I brought him to Wentworth Park on Tuesday night and gave him a hit-out in a trial.''
An inside draw should put Fantastic Blake back in the winner's circle, with the Jason Fletcher-trained greyhound having box two in race six - the goldeneasteregg.com.au Stakes (520m).
Fantastic Blake, who has won six of 23 starts, shows his best form when drawn near the rails.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Starzsa Light (Race 4)
Best Value: However Humble (Race 3)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 8, 2
Race 6 - 2, 8, 6
Race 7 - 4, 3, 2
Race 8 - 5, 2, 3
$20 for 37.03%
