Fastest Heat winner Midnight Francis and the highly promising Wise Owl look stand-out bets after drawing box one in their semi-finals of the Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night.
The Jane Carruthers-trained Wise Owl will carry the red rug in Heat one while Midnight Francis has drawn the rails in Heat four.
Dave Pringle, trainer of Midnight Francis, won three Heats last week, with his other winners Rusty Memories and Watch The Wasp">Wasp set to clash from boxes three and four respectively in Heat two.
"I have not trained a greyhound which has improved so rapidly in three weeks than Midnight Francis,'' Pringle said.
"She trialled close to Brad Hill Billy's Dubbo 516m record before winning her Heat and since last week's Magic Maiden qualifiers she has beaten her kennelmate Watch The Wasp in a hit-out up my straight track at Clergate.
"Midnight Francis should win from box one while I lean to Watch The Wasp over Rusty Memories in Heat two.
"Watch The Wasp was having only his second test over 520m when he came from last to win his Heat in 30.18. It was a super run because he had to work his way across to the rails from box eight.
"I have sold Rusty Memories to a syndicate but they have left him in my care for the rest of the Magic Maiden series.
"He has always been as strong as a lion at the finish of 520m but amazed me by jumping in front and leading all the way to win his Heat in 29.99.
"I had expected him to be at the rear of the field at the first turn so if he comes out fast again he will give Watch The Wasp a tough race.''
Jane Carruthers won the 2013 Magic Maiden with Clockwise and is keen on the chances of that greyhound's son Wise Owl in Heat one.
"Although he won his Heat from box eight, Wise Owl is better suited on the rails so box one in the semi-final is great,'' Carruthers said.
"Wise Owl's only flaw is a lack of brilliant early speed but he is certainly ideally positioned on the fence.
"I'm not over-confident though because Clockwise finished second in both her Heat and semi-final of the 2013 Magic Maiden yet came out and won the final!''
The DEAN Swain-trained Shockwave, who led throughout to win her Heat in 29.84, will be all the rage for Heat three after drawing nicely in box three.
Crack Melbourne trainer Anthony Azzopardi won a Heat of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg on Saturday night with Topper Teretto and is set to take out Heats of Wednesday night's Group 3 New Sensation with Gravel Rash Riot and Black Sky Riot.
Gravel Rash Riot, who has box one in Heat two, has not raced at Wentworth Park but according to Azzopardi he trialled well at the track on Saturday night.
"He is well drawn in box one and is capable of beginning smartly,'' Azzopardi said. "If he is left alone for the first 10 metres he will be awfully hard to beat.''
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Wednesday picks:
Best Bet: Wise Owl (Race 1)
Best Value: Gravel Rash Riot (Race 6)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 1, 4, 8
Race 6 - 1, 7, 5
Race 7 - 6, 7
Race 8 - 5, 6, 1
$20 for 37.03%
