La Bella Riot was beaten into third place by her two kennelmates in a Wentworth Park trial last Saturday but her in-form trainer Anthony Azzopardi expects her to improve enough to win Heat three of the Group 1 Ladbrokes National Futurity there on Saturday night.
In last week's trial Azzopardi's Blue Sky Riot defeated her sister Mystic Riot in a handy 30.24 with La Bella Riot clocking a slow 30.65 in finishing third.
But Azzopardi, who landed his third Group 1 Paws Of Thunder final last Saturday with Raw Ability, has advised punters to ignore La Bella Riot's trial defeat.
"She is quicker than her two sisters but La Bella Riot badly needs a run on a track before she performs at her best,'' Azzopardi said.
"Heat three on Saturday does not appear to be too hard to win and La Bella Riot, who has enough early speed to overcome box six, is my best chance.
"Blue Sky Riot can win Heat one from box four but Mystic Riot, who lacks early dash, is going to need luck from box five in Heat two.''
Victoria's Robert Britton, who trained Fanta Bale to take out last Saturday's Group 2 Summer Plate at Wentworth Park, is pleased with Fernando Express' box two draw in Heat one of this week's Group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby.
"Fernando Express should get a good run from box two but Dyna Wazza, another Victorian who has box six, is a very smart greyhound and won't be easy to beat.''
Britton has a big opinion of Benali, who has box six in Heat five of the Derby, but that greyhound is unlikely to start.
"Benali has not been himself lately and I don't think he will be coming to Sydney,'' Britton said.
With Benali sidelined Dyna Chancer, who has won eight of 10 races for Victorian trainer Correy Grenfell, will be a red hot favourite.
Dyna Chancer has not raced at Wentworth Park but is so good he has been sent out a $1.10 favourite and won twice recently at Warrnambool and Sandown.
Trainer Seona Thompson is not concerned about Silver Chief Classic winner Out Of Range's wide draw in Heat two of the Derby.
Out Of Range has won nine of his 14 starts and trialled impressively at Wentworth Park last Saturday, covering the Derby distance of 520m in a smart 30.01.
Leading Wentworth Park trainer Jason MACKAY, who brought Out Of Range to Wentworth Park on Thompson's behalf, said: "Seona believes that trial will do this greyhound the world of good.
"She said he invariably improves with a run on the track and while most of Out Of Range's wins have been from inside draws, he has won each of his two starts from box eight.
"Seona said Out Of Range will run in a straight line from the starting boxes to the first turn.''
Ironically MACKAY's Zipping Clive, who has box five, looms as Out Of Range's main rival.
"Zipping Clive's problem is that he is a slow beginner,'' MACKAY said.
"He has not raced for over a month but has had a few trials and is going as well as when he won at Wenty in mid-December.
"But I believe my best Derby prospect is Aston Duke, who has box four in Heat three.
"That looks to be one of the weaker Heats and Aston Duke, whose six races at Wenty have yielded three wins and two placings, is not badly drawn.''
Jeff Collerson's Selection's
Best Bet: Dyna Chancer (race 8)
Best Value: La Bella Riot (race 6)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 4, 1, 6
Race 6 - 6, 5
Race 7 - 7, 3, 2
Race 8 - 5, 3, 7
$20 for 37.03%
