Saturday night's 52nd running of the Group 3 Wentworth Park Gold Cup looms as a three way battle between local heroine Ebby Ripper and Victorian raiders Billy's Bake and Hit The Highway.
Box draw favours Billy's Bake in box one and Ebby Ripper (eight) but Hit The Highway's early zip could enable him to overcome box five and adopt the role of pacemaker.
Hit The Highway won over 520m at Wentworth Park in a sizzling 29.99 in January last year but has won his past two starts, over 660m at Bendigo, in fast times of 37.64 and 37.69.
"Early in his career I had my doubts whether Hit The Highway would run a strong 720m but he has come from well back to win his two latest middle distance races at Bendigo,'' trainer Angela Langton said.
Ian Garland, who trains Billy's Bake, is delighted his dog has drawn box one but does not think he can beat Ebby Ripper if she gets a clear run.
"Ebby Ripper is the fastest greyhound in the race but she often gets back in the field so her chances depend on what sort of run she obtains,'' Garland said.
"Ebby Ripper has run 42.16 at Wenty and while my dog has clocked 42.58, I don't think he can go any faster than 42.50 or maybe 42.45.
"Billy's Bake is a fraction short of being a really top line stayer which is why I am bringing him to Wenty rather than heading over to Perth for the Group 1 Cannington Galaxy heats on Saturday night.
"Box one brings Billy's Bake in with a good chance at Wenty because he really loves the fence.''
Ebby Ripper, with nine wins and 15 placings from 29 long-distance starts at Wentworth Park, is by far the most experienced stayer in the Cup but at 38 months of age still has plenty of racing ahead of her.
Her trainer Michael Eberand conceded: "Ebby Ripper can win in 42.10 but she can also be beaten in 42.80, depending on what kind of passage she gets through the field.''
Ebby Ripper has won two of her past three Wentworth Park 720m starts but in those wins she was closer to the lead at the first turn than in most of her previous races, where she has been among the tailenders in the early stages.
Angela Langton's partner Jeff Britton could land Saturday night's Ladbrokes Info Hub Stakes, a 520m fourth grade, with Wentworth Park newcomer Miss Innings.
Miss Innings chased home Australia's two best sprinters, Up Hill Jill and Striker Light, over 525m at Melbourne's The Meadows last Saturday, so she drops sharply in class at Wentworth Park.
"Miss Innings has box eight and while she can handle an outside draw I would have preferred to see her drawn on the rails for her first Wenty race,'' Britton said.
"I am bringing her to Sydney to see how she goes with a view to bringing her back for the heats of the Group 3 Ladies Bracelet heats at Wentworth Park on April 28.''
Safest bet on Saturday night should be Ritza Lenny, chasing his 13th win in 26 Wentworth Park starts in the 520m Ladbrokes Monthly Medal Masters Stakes.
This event is for veteran greyhounds but Ritza Lenny, who turns four in June, is racing as well as ever.
While he recorded his personal best Wentworth Park time of 29.60 in September, 2016, Ritza Lenny clocked 29.67 when chasing home Crash Bandicoot in 29.65, fastest of the Golden
Easter Egg heats at headquarters on March 17.
Ritza Lenny has box two on Saturday and has won three of his four starts wearing the black and white chequered rug.
Jeff Collerson’s Selection’s
Best Bet: Ritza Lenny (Race 8)
Best Value: Hit The Highway (Race 6)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 7, 1, 8
Race 6 - 5, 8, 1
Race 7 - 1, 6, 5
Race 8 - 2, 5
$20 for 37.03%
