Sandown Launching Pad winner Beast Unleashed takes on Queensland Derby hero Two Times Twice while Victorian trainer Darren Brown's trio of "super siblings'' makes their first Wentworth Park appearances in Saturday night's Heats of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Classic.
Beast Unleashed, chasing his eighth win in 10 races, has box three in Heat four of the 520m Classic where Two Times Twice, a winner of four from five starts out of box eight, will again wear his favourite pink rug.
Darren Brown, who trained the former crack sprinter Cosmic Chief, will be represented by litter brothers Chief's Empire in Heat one, Chief's Sidekick (Heat two) and Percy's Empire (Heat four).
Brown's dogs boast marvellous strike rates, with Chief's Sidekick and Percy's Empire each having won eight from 17 races and Chief's Empire successful in seven of 14 outings.
"I have not raced at Wentworth Park for eight years, when my Sandown Shootout winner Cosmic Chief finished third in the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder,'' Brown said.
"Chief's Sidekick is the quickest of my trio although Percy's Empire is not far behind him.
"They are well drawn in boxes one and two respectively because that is where they want to be.
"Chief's Empire's early speed should help him offset his box six draw.
"Although they have not raced at Wentworth Park I brought them to Sydney last week for a trial on the track.
"They went as well as I could have expected considering they had not previously seen the course.''
Beast Unleashed has not raced for a month but is trialling brilliantly in preparation for his first Wentworth Park race according to trainer Jodie Lagogiane.
"He had a couple of niggling injuries and needed a break to ensure he was ready for these Peter Mosman Heats,'' Lagogiane said.
"Beast Unleashed has had a look at Wenty and while he has not raced there he went super in his trial, going as quick as he has ever gone.''
My Redeemer, a kennelmate of champion Up Hill Jill, has box two against his arch rival Chief's Sidekick (box one).
My Redeemer won the Group 1 Harrison-Dawson at Sandown on May 24 and while his dog has the advantage of already being a Wentworth Park winner, trainer David Geall concedes Chief's Sidekick will be hard to beat.
"Chief's Sidekick is a very fast dog with terrific early pace, although he can miss the kick occasionally,'' Geall said.
"With My Redeemer drawn alongside him in box two, I'm hoping he can get a sit behind Chief's Sidekick and run him down.''
The two greyhounds have clashed three times recently, with Geall's dog relegating Chief's Sidekick to second placing on two occasions and Chief's Sidekick reversing those placings in another race.
Heat four of the Classic looks the strongest, as apart from Two Times Twice, who has clocked a sensational 29.68 at Wentworth Park, Beast Unleashed and Percy's Empire, the field also includes the Mark Gatt-trained front-runner Ritza Millie, who has won four of five Wentworth Park appearances.
Black Forge, a winner of 10 from 16 races for trainer Darren Sultana, takes on Zipping Mitzy, a sensational Wentworth Park debutante for trainer Jason Magri who blotted her copybook when she bungled the start at her second outing there.
Queensland ace Corykodi, trained by veteran Claude Dacey, has box one in Heat one and has won 12 of 23 starts.
Corykodi trialled a nippy 30.18 at Wentworth Park last week but will face tough opposition from Burning Fuel, a winner of six from eight races, and Veloce Nero, a litter brother and kennelmate of Two Times Twice.
Veloce Nero lacks early pace but flew home for a close third in last week's Richmond Riches and is the only dog in Heat one to have broken 30 seconds at Wentworth Park, having posted a slick 29.87.
First four past the post in each Heat will contest two Classic semi-finals on June 9 with the $75,000 to the winner final a week later.
Best bet this Saturday should be the Jason Magri-prepared Tristan Cannon, who has won 19 of 38 starts, is suited boxed wide in seven and drops sharply in class the opening event, a 520m fifth grade.
Jeff Collerson’s Selections
Best Bet: Tristan Cannon (race 1)
Best Value: Veloce Nero (race 5)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 3, 4, 1
Race 6 - 1, 2, 5
Race 7 - 7, 6
Race 8 - 8, 3, 2
