Ebby Ripper and Starzsa Light are expected to confirm their rankings as Sydney's best stayers by winning each of the heats of the Group 3 Wentworth Park Gold Cup on Saturday night.
The Michael Eberand-trained Ebby Ripper has box six in heat one while the DEAN Swain-trained Starzsa Light has drawn four in heat two, both over the 720m distance.
Eberand goes into Saturday full of confidence after Ebby Ripper defeated Starza Light in a two-dog trial at Richmond last week.
“Ebby Ripper went terrific at Richmond because she gave Starzsa Light five lengths start at one stage,” Eberand said.
“Despite clocking 41.60, the run did not take anything out of Ebby Ripper. She was doing laps of my property the following day so is all set for Saturday night.”
Tasmania's leading trainer Ted Medhurst, whose 2014 Australian Cup winner Buckle Up Wes finished fourth in the 2014 Golden Easter Egg final, will unveil his two candidates for this year's Golden Easter Egg heats on Saturday night.
Medhurst's pair Chief Jetpilot and Dark Casio have drawn boxes three and eight respectively in the opening event – the 5th grade wentworthpark.com.au Stakes (520m).
“Chief Jetpilot is the quicker of the pair but Dark Casio is ideally boxed and has brilliant early speed,” Medhurst said.
“When Dark Casio won at Hobart on March 9 she recorded the fourth quickest time ever posted over the 461m there.
"She is capable of leading around the first turn but if Chief Jetpilot gets a crack at her he should run her down. He is a slow beginner but has good track sense and he will be hunting up along the rails at the first turn.”
Top Victorian trainer Anthony Azzopardi rates Black Sky Riot the best chance of his three Wentworth Park newcomers on Saturday night.
Azzopardi has Black Sky Riot in box three in race 10 – the 5th grade AAA Radiator Specialists Stakes (520m) - and believes the greyhound is a strong prospect.
“Black Sky Riot is only young but is very fast and he has the potential to reach the sport's top echelon,” Azzopardi said.
“If he nails the start on Saturday night he should win.”
Azzopardi also has Lucky Chap in box six in race one and Mysterize in box four in race nine – the 5th grade @wpgreyon Twitter Stakes (520m).
“Lucky Chap is in a harder race but is a good beginner who is suited out wide in box six,” Azzopardi said.
“Myterize continues to draw poorly so is only a rough chance.”
All three are set to line-up in the Golden Easter Egg heats on April 1.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson’s Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Black Sky Riot (Race 10)
Best Value: Myrniong Blaster (Race 9)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 6, 1, 5
Race 6 - 4, 5, 3
Race 7 - 2, 3
Race 8 - 1, 2, 4
$20 for 37.03%
