Wentworth Park fans are in for a rare treat when Zipping Mitzy and Ritza Millie, two of greyhound racing's most exciting prospects, clash in Saturday night's opening event, the 520m Bakels Valued Customers Stakes.
Zipping Mitzy won first-up at Wentworth Park on May 16 in a blistering 29.68 just 21 minutes after Ritza Millie had led throughout in a slick 29.92.
But while Zipping Mitzy, unbeaten in four races, is clearly the faster of the pair, the box draw has evened things up for Ritza Millie, winner of five of six races including three from four at headquarters.
Zipping Mitzy has box seven on Saturday night but Ritza Millie has drawn the coveted rails position from where she remains undefeated in three outings.
Mark Gatt, trainer of Ritza Millie, is regarded as a realist when it comes to assessing his greyhounds and he said: "Our only hope is if my bitch goes straight to the front and Zipping Mitzy gets held up early.
"I have an enormous opinion of Zipping Mitzy, who is racing full of confidence and if she sits in second position behind Ritza Millie around the first turn she will be too good.
"But there is a little bit of early pace among the greyhounds drawn inside Zipping Mitzy so we might get the breaks.
"I believe Ritza Millie can go quicker than the time she clocked at Wenty last start but I'm not predicting she will do so this week.
"Ritza Millie is by Collision and they tend to improve with age while the same applies to my breed, and she is out of my former top notch bitch Ritza Hattie.''
Gatt's four-year-old "warrior'' Ritza Lenny will be among the favourites for Saturday night's top grade 520m race, the Bakels Fruit Fillings Stakes.
Ritza Lenny, who has box six, takes on Little Digger, who beat him by two lengths in a smart 29.96 when they met at Wentworth Park last Saturday.
In that clash Little Digger had box one while Ritza Lenny was sent out favourite from box seven.
This week their draws are similar with Little Digger in two and Ritza Lenny again drawn wide.
"Ritza Lenny has been a marvellous old dog, he is going as well as ever and just loves going to the racetrack,'' Gatt said.
"So while he stays sound and keeps enjoying himself he will continue racing.''
Best value bet on Saturday night looms as Lagoon Wilks, who has box one in race seven, the 520m Bakels Custard Mixes Stakes.
The Sharron Webster-trained Lagoon Wilks resumed from a two months' spell to win in the fastest time of the day over 440m at Goulburn on May 15.
The dog's best recent effort at Wentworth Park was when he was run down by noted powerful finisher Bogan Doonie in a nippy 30.11 on December 30.
In that race Lagoon Wilks missed the jump from box two but showed great dash to lead clearly around the first turn before being overpowered by the winner in the run home.
Webster's husband Ray said: "Lagoon Wilks is going every bit as well as he was when he chased home Bogan Doonie.
"He won really well at Goulburn this month and has trialled satisfactorily since so we expect him to go close to winning from his good rails draw on Saturday.''
Mister Fernando, who has won seven of his past dozen starts, appeals as Saturday night's best bet after drawing box two in the 520m Bakels Cheesecake Mix Stakes.
A dashing front-runner, Mister Fernando has box two and with slow beginners Hit Record (box one) and Big Daddy Bee (three) drawn either side of him should have no trouble leading around the first corner.
Jeff Collerson’s Selections
Best Bet: Mister Fernando (Race 5)
Best Value: Lagoon Wilks (Race 7)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 2, 1, 3
Race 6 - 1, 8, 6
Race 7 - 1, 5
Race 8 - 2, 6, 1
$20 for 37.03%
