Tahlia's Way was an impressive winner at her long distance debut at Wentworth Park on August 12 and a subsequent trial indicates she is set to go even better there tonight.
After a successful middle distance campaign in Brisbane, Tahlia's Way was sent over 720m for the first time at Wentworth Park 10 days ago and led throughout in 42.62.
None of her rivals in tonight's third event, a fourth and fifth grade event over the same course, has equalled that time.
Tahlia's Way's trainer John Dart said: "She pulled up well after her Wenty win and last Friday I trialled her over 620m at Casino and she went exceptionally well.
"Joe's Drinking, another of my team, had won over 620m earlier in the day, clocking 36.59, but Tahlia's Way trialled half a second faster.
"Tahlia's Way had box one when she won on debut at Wentworth Park but I don't expect box seven will worry her on Wednesday because she usually runs in a straight line from the boxes to the first turn.''
Dart knows what it takes to train a stayer as he prepared the former champion long-distance performers Miss Grub and Miss Brook.
They raced just over a decade ago and between them won 62 races, mostly against top grade company.
Dart, who trains at Dulguigan on the far North Coast, has Joe's Drinking (box one) and his speedster Spare Cash (box two) in the 520m fifth race, a fourth grade event, on Wednesday.
"Joe's Drinking has not seen Wentworth Park and I would prefer to see him drawn wide,'' Dart said.
"I just hope he does not run out and collide with Spare Cash in the early stages, but she should be able to outpace Joe's Drinking to the first corner.
"At her only Wentworth Park race, Spare Cash knuckled over at the start but she is usually a smart beginner.
"And because she had never seen the track previously Spare Cash got a bit lost and ran wide at the first turn, something unusual for her because she is normally a good railer.''
Since being unplaced at her Wentworth Park debut on August 12 Spare Cash has proved her fitness by winning over 411m at Casino last Friday, taking her tally to 17 wins from 39 starts.
Melissa's Charm was inconvenienced by a loose muzzle when she finished fifth at Wentworth Park on Saturday night and should atone against weaker opposition in the opening race, a 520m fifth grade.
"Although it was a strong field last Saturday I was hoping Melissa's Charm would make the early pace and steal a big break in the middle stages,'' trainer Michelle Shambler said.
"She was the early leader but I was surprised when a couple of her rivals reached her so far from home on the back straight.
"But at the finish of the race Melissa's Charm's muzzle had come off and was flapping around her neck.
"That certainly would not have done her any good.''
Tonight's WP 520m Free For All features what should be an absorbing contest between Megalodon (box one), Ritza Rossi (two), Good Odds Angel (three) and Riechenbach (eight).
The draw favours Megalodon who made full use of the rails when she won from box one at Wentworth Park on July 8 and tonight she has the luxury of having wide runners Ritza Rossi and Good Odds Angel positioned alongside her.
Jeff Collerson's picks
Best Bet: Tahlia's Way (Race 3)
Best Value: Melissa's Charm (Race 1)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 2, 4, 8
Race 6 - 4, 1
Race 7 - 1, 2, 3
Race 8 - 2, 5, 7
$20 for 37.03%
