Lochnivar Hugo has had 17 wins and a second from his past 18 starts but trainer Robert Smith concedes arch rival Ebby Ripper will be ‘hard to crack’ when the two outstanding greyhounds clash at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Lochinvar Hugo makes his keenly anticipated Wentworth Park 720m debut in race three, the Ladbrokes Money Wire Stakes, while Ebby Ripper will be chasing her eighth long distance win at the track.
“Ebby Ripper is at the top of her game now and she will be hard to crack,” Lochinvar Hugo's trainer Smith said.
“Box one will help my dog but the small field of six will suit Ebby Ripper because she tends to get back in the field.
“I was a bit disappointed with Lochinvar Hugo's 600m win at Gosford on Tuesday night but he pulled up well and I'm hoping he can get away with a big break in the early stages of Saturday's race.”
Ebby Ripper's trainer Michael Eberand said: “She is raring to go and is definitely suited by having only five opponents.”
Meanwhile neither Zipping Floyd or Bolt Like Bekim has drawn ideally for their duel in Saturday night's other 720m feature, the $8000 to the winner Ladbrokes Monthly Medal final.
This race is considered a match as Zipping Floyd won his heat by 17 lengths in 42.68 while Bolt Like Bekim took the other heat in 42.77, scoring by nearly five lengths.
Zipping Floyd made full use of box two in his heat win so this keen railer has drawn poorly in box seven in the final.
Bolt Like Bekim has box four but his trainer Dave Power is not greatly concerned about his greyhound's "squeeze'' draw.
“Boxes don't make much difference to Bolt Like Bekim because he is usually last in the run to the first turn,” Power said.
“But he is very fit and when I gave him a post-to-post slip at Wenty on Tuesday night Bolt Like Bekim went really well.
“He has done everything asked of him since his heat win at Wentworth Park on December 30.”
Queensland trainer Steve Scott and his partner Kelli Olsen are bringing three well-credentialled Sydney newcomers to Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Scott has Iconic Beach in box four in race seven, a 520m fifth grade, and Farmor Chips in race nine, a similar event.
Olsen will rug up Shadow Edge, who has box six in race 10, another fifth grade 520m event.
“Our trio have good chances because each has plenty of ability,” Scott said.
“Iconic Beach veered to the left when he jumped from boxes seven and eight in winning twice and finishing third at his past three starts at Ipswich and Albion Park recently.
“He has box four on Saturday and I'm not unhappy about that because the closer to the rails he is, the better he likes it.
“Farmor Chips is a fast beginner with good early speed but the 520m at Wenty might test him.
“He didn't get to the line strongly in a couple of 520m races at Albion Park recently but I have changed his training routine in a bid to make him run the distance more solidly on Saturday night.
“Kelli's greyhound Shadow Edge has won four of 12 starts and although he has not seen Wenty and has box six, he is a highly talented greyhound.”
Saturday night's best value bet should be veteran Pedro Cerrano, who has box five in race one, a 520m fifth grade.
Pedro Cerrano finished second at cricket score odds in the final of the group 2 Woy Woy Poultry Gold Cup at Gosford on Tuesday night and should relish the drop in class on Saturday.
He has the early pace to overcome his middle draw and is poised to score his 26th win in his 104th race.
Best Bet Ebby Ripper (race 3)
Best Value Pedro Cerrano (race 1)
Quaddie race 5 - 4, 7j
Race 6 - 1, 5, 7
Race 7 - 6, 4, 2
Race 8 - 2, 6, 3
$20 for 37.03%
