The Group 1 Ladbrokes Paws Of Thunder heats highlight next Saturday night's Wentworth Park card but the Group 2 Summer Plate heats loom as a thrilling sidelight following last Saturday's wins at headquarters by Lochinvar Hugo and Bolt Like Bekim.
Lochinvar Hugo registered the most impressive of his 26 victories in 36 appearances with a comfortable three lengths victory over arch rival Ebby Ripper.
The Robert Smith-trained Lochinvar Hugo took his recent record to 18 wins and a second from 19 starts when he shrugged off an early bump and came from behind to cover the 720m in a sizzling 42.23.
Lochinvar Hugo was expected to race away with a big early lead but Midnight Treat began brilliantly from box eight and cut him off as they rounded the first turn.
Midnight Treat ran a bold race but Lochinvar Hugo headed her on the home turn and careered away, with Ebby Ripper charging home in her usual fashion to cut the early leader out of second prizemoney.
"Lochinvar Hugo had not been over 720 metres at Wenty previously so that was a great trial for next Saturday's Summer Plate heats," Smith said later.
Bolt Like Bekim won an easier 720m event but after beginning better than usual, the DAVE Power-trained stayer was fourth at the first bend and took the lead on the back straight to win by 17 lengths.
Power has been setting Bolt Like Bekim for the Summer Plate since early last month and the dog's time on Saturday, 42.42, was his personal best.
Having troublesome tonsils removed helped pave the way for Techno's return to the Wentworth Park winner's circle with the DEAN Swain-trained dog running down Mainline Osti to win over 520m in a handy 30.18.
After the race Swain's wife Danielle, who handled the dog, said: "Techno's tonsils were giving him trouble so we had a tonsillectomy performed on him and it has made a lot of difference.
Although Techno had not won at Wentworth Park since November, the Swains expected him to run well on Saturday, with Danielle commenting: "He likes Wenty Park, he was well boxed out wide and his past two runs, here and at Gosford, have been terrific."
Ben Hur earned a start in the Group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby heats with his all-the-way win in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday night.
The win took the George Borg-trained speedster's record to 10 wins from 16 starts and the Derby heats on January 27 at Wentworth Park are now the target.
"Ben Hur used to be a faultless beginner but he has taken to playing up in the boxes and I was worried that if he missed the jump tonight he could not win," Borg said.
"Because when he misses the kick he often has the pace to enable him to reach the lead, but then he has trouble running out a strong 520 metres.
"He needs to begin smartly to see the distance out properly."
Saturday's fastest 520m times were Rohan Hill's 29.98 and the 29.99 posted by Mark Gatt's former Victorian sprinter It's A Party.
See you next week!
