Canyonleigh trainer Ruth Matic won the 2015 Wentworth Park Magic Maiden with Black Bear Lee and considers Embye, her semi-finalist in this year's Group 3 series, comparable to her former speedster.
Embye has box one in the second semi-final at Wentworth Park tonight and Matic said: "I was very excited when he drew the rails.
"Embye might not have quite as much early speed as Black Bear Lee had but he is perhaps a fraction stronger at the finish so overall there is not much between them.''
Embye finished second in Winlock Huddy's heat last Wednesday after losing any winning chance at the start.
Embye exited box six and veered sharply towards the rails, giving Winlock Huddy, who had box seven, a dream run to the first turn.
After being badly checked twice in trying to reach the inside fence, Embye made up ground to finish second, beaten eight lengths by Winlock Huddy in a smart 30.16.
Winlock Huddy is expected to move through to Saturday week's $25,000 to the winner Magic Maiden final after drawing box one in heat one.
Although Winlock Huddy handled his wide draw well in last week's heat, trainer Jodie Lord said she prefers him drawn inside.
"I wanted him boxed near the fence and That's Lil Vicki, who ran wide from box three in a Wentworth Park performance trial on February 28, has box two so should give Wilock Huddy a clear run early.''
Steelcity Boxing, whose 29.90 was fastest of the nine Magic Maiden heat winners, has drawn poorly in box six in the fourth semi, where the big improver could be the well positioned Nangar Jill, who has box two after winning her heat from box six in 30.55.
Jodie Lord also has Chew The Fat in box four in heat one of the Group 3 New Sensation, Winlock Banking in box three in heat three (race 7) and Black Bandicoot drawn on the rails in heat five (race 9).
"My best chance of those is probably Chew The Fat, even though he is up against a strong lineup,'' Lord said.
"I doubt any of his rivals could trial faster around Canberra than Chew The Fat does but of course this is Wenty, not Canberra.
"Winlock Banking has good early pace and Black Bandicoot has a great draw so they are place chances.''
Tonight’s keenest duel looks between noted front runners Winsome Money (box six) and One Hour Parking (box eight) in heat five of the New Sensation.
Winsome Money led throughout from box six to win in 29.84 at Wentworth Park on March 10, posting sizzling sectional times of 5.38, 13.82 and 17.91.
One Hour Parking had not been headed winning at Wentworth Park three nights earlier in 30.17, recording splits of 5.41, 13.74 and 17.90.
"Winsome Money has a quicker first split than my dog One Hour Parking but he might give us a nice cart across to the first turn,'' trainer Mark Knowles said.
"One Hour Parking has box eight and with Winsome Money in six my fellow could secure a good run.
"If One Hour Parking can reach the lead rounding the first turn he will put on the after burners down the back straight and then it will be a matter of how well he hangs on in the home straight.''
Zipping Clive, who found trouble when fourth in a heat of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, should relish the drop in grade when he contests heat three of the age and class restricted New Sensation.
Zipping Clive has won five races at Wentworth Park and defeated top grade fields when he won in 29.96 and in 29.72 on February 14 and March 3.
Jeff Collerson’s Selection’s
Best Bet: Zipping Clive (race 7)
Best Value: Nangar Jill (race 4)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 2, 7, 4
Race 6 - 7, 6, 5
Race 7 - 6, 5
Race 8 - 4, 2, 6
$20 for 37.03%
