Up Hill Jill, toppled in her heat when a $1.35 hot favourite, has the near ideal draw to atone and take out another big race final, Saturday night's Group 3 Evans & Son Jewellers Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park.
Up Hill Jill had box seven when second to Bikini Cloud in 30.26, slowest of the three heats, but is much better placed in box two in the $25,000 to the winner final.
While trainer David Geall is elated with his greyhound's inside draw, fastest heat winners Ella Enchanted, who won in 29.48, and Miss Splendamiro, who scored in 29.79, are boxed awkwardly in five and four respectively.
"In her heat the greyhound on Up Hill Jill's left veered out and bumped her at the start, then she was checked going through the catching pen and again on the back straight,'' Geall said.
"The girl who caught her for me said she was amazed Up Hill Jill was able to stay on her feet, and when she went backwards at the halfway mark I thought she was going to drop right out.
"But Up Hill Jill never gives up, she seems to hate getting beaten, and she got going again to finish second and so qualify for another Group final.
"She did not begin as well as she usually does last Saturday so I have kept her on the lead this week because with her good draw I want her to show her old zip from the boxes.''
Apart from Up Hill Jill, the most favorably drawn Bracelet finalists are the Tracey Kovacic-trained Alpine Little (box eight) and Bikini Cloud (box one) who is trained in Queensland by Glenn Smith.
Alpine Little, bought from a Melbourne owner for only $3700 in late December, led to the back straight when second, beaten nine lengths, by Ella Enchanted in a sensational 29.48.
Tiny Alpine Little, who weighs just 23kg, recorded sizzling splits of 5.44 and 13.88 despite racing wide from box five in her heat.
"While I would have liked box one, box eight should suit Alpine Little because she runs wide,'' Kovacic said.
"Being so tiny one would think she would be a better railer but that's just how she races.
"Alpine Little needs to lead to win so she must jump smartly, like she did in her heat.''
While Bikini Cloud took 30.26 to win her heat, trainer Glenn Smith believes she can go much quicker.
"She can't go as fast as Ella Enchanted and Miss Splendamiro at their best but Bikini Cloud can probably get down around the 29.80 mark,'' Smith said.
"Bikini Cloud had box four and was near the rear of the field at the first turn last week but can show good early speed and from box one is capable of being up near the early lead.
"I did not intend bringing her to Sydney for this race until she trialled 24.90 over 431m at Ipswich five days before the heats.
"Her kennelmate Splendiferous was going to be my sole Futurity entry but when she clocked 24.80 on the same day at Ipswich they both earned the trip south.
"Splendiferous, who is a litter sister to Miss Splendamiro, is much faster than Bikini Cloud but is not as reliable.
"Splendiferous has box six in the final and has the job ahead from there, but if she had drawn the rails would have been a strong chance because she is a machine from box one.''
Ritza Lenny, who has won 13 of 28 Wentworth Park starts, looks Saturday's best bet from box eight in race three, a heat of the Ladbrokes Monthly Medal, 520m.
Ritza Lenny has won three of his eight races wearing the pink rug and his fastest Wentworth Park time of 29.59 is half a second faster than the personal best figures of his nearest rival Glengarrie Mate.
Spy Secrets is yet to win at Wentworth Park but was unlucky when placed in two of three races in town and looks great value from box three in race 10 on Saturday.
Jeff Collerson’s Selection’s
Best Bet: Ritza Lenny (Race 3)
Best Value: Spy Secrets (Race 10)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 7, 1
Race 6 - 7, 4, 3
Race 7 - 2, 8, 1
Race 8 - 2, 5, 4
$20 for 37.03%
