Mark Swift, who trained Smart Valentino to victory in the 2013 National Distance Championship, is set to return to the winner's circle at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night with Detroit Lion.
Swift, a Lithgow coal miner, has had few starters on city tracks since the heady days of Smart Valentino. But Detroit Lion, who has drawn box five, is one of only three greyhounds in Wednesday's mixed grade fourth event (720m) to have been placed over the testing 720m trip.
"He was placed there last year but is going better now," Swift (pictured with Smart Valentino) said.
"At his most recent start Detroit Lion finished second over 618m at Richmond last Friday night but he was running over the top of his rivals at the finish. He simply ran out of track and has certainly come good over the past couple of weeks.
"Detroit Lion's problem has always been that he is a dog which finds trouble in his races, with his record of two wins but 22 placings telling the story."
In other action at Wentworth Park, exciting middle distance and staying greyhound Mr. Shire will be seen in a different role on Wednesday night, exiting box one in the opening event - a 5th grade sprint (520m).
"I had to put him in a sprint because I have been trying to get a start with him in longer events for the past six weeks but have not been able to find a race," trainer Bob McColm said.
"The dog is flying in trials and after clocking 34.28 in a 600m trial at Unibet Gardens I trialled him again over that distance on Friday and he recorded 34.33.
"Those times aren't far off Mr. Shire's own track record of 34.20 and three trials back he zipped over the 515m at Unibet Gardens in 29.52. That is very quick too but running fast times in a solo trial is one thing and doing it in a full field is a different matter."
Wednesday's best bet should be Portillo, who is ideally drawn in box one in race 10 - a fifth grade (520m).
Portillo led early when runner-up in a smart 30 seconds at Wentworth Park on May 17, then had no luck when sent out a hot favourite before finishing fourth there last Wednesday.
There is far less early pace among her rivals on Wednesday and the John Smart-trained greyhound should lead throughout.
Allonsy Grace, who overcame a slow start to win Portillo's race last week, also looks a great bet in race five (520m).
Last Wednesday Allonsy Grace was sixth away but swept around the field to take the lead on the back straight careering away to win easily.
Jeff Collerson's Selections
Best Bet: Portillo (Race 10)
Best Value: Allonsy Grace (Race 5)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 7, 2, 3
Race 6 - 4, 2, 7
Race 7 - 6, 1, 5
Race 8 - 1, 6
$20 for 37.03%
