Three up-and-coming long-distance performers - each a last start Wentworth Park winner - along with a talented rookie stayer, meet at headquarters on Saturday night in what is virtually a dress rehearsal for next month's National Distance Championship.
Kanzan, Alotta Talk and Kihael Road were impressive Wentworth Park 720m winners at their most recent outings and will clash, along with the promising Veloce Nero, a newcomer to the staying ranks, in the 720m Duke's Ladbrokes Previews Stakes.
Local heats of the group one National Distance Championship will be held at Wentworth Park on August 4 with the state final five nights later deciding the NSW representation in the $75,000 to the winner grand final at Melbourne's Sandown on August 24.
While Saturday night's draw favours Veloce Nero, who has box one, she is untried beyond 618m and the value runner looms as Kihael Road, despite him being the "slowest" of the trio of Wentworth Park 720m winners.
Kihael Road took 42.71sec to win at his long-distance debut at Wentworth Park on July 11 but it was a gritty effort as he missed the start and was hampered in the middle stages.
Kanzan clocked a personal best 42.35 when she ran down King Panda at the same meeting but she has box eight, and has been beaten in each of two previous starts wearing the pink rug.
Alotta Talk's three wins from five Wenty staying races include a 42.59 effort but he is renowned for his lack of early dash and is likely to be at the back of the field with a lap to go.
Most suitably graded at Wentworth Park on Saturday is the JODIE Lord-trained Champion Model, who has box one in heat one of the 520m Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes.
Champion Model has won 18 races and has a great record from the rails trap, winning four of her seven appearances from the inside alley.
"Her latest effort, when she finished second in the fastest time of the night at Albion Park on July 12, was excellent,'' Lord said.
"Champion Model was only beaten a length and it was a top grade race so providing she can hold out Jayda Rose, who is speedy and has box two, in the run to the first turn, my greyhound should be hard to beat.''
Fastest qualifier Burning Fuel will exit box one for the first time in her career when she contests Saturday's Ladbrokes Daily Video Final, 520m.
The Mark Wilcox-trained flyer, who has won nine of 12 races, was the only finalist to break the 30sec barrier in the heats, scoring by seven lengths in 29.92sec.
"I was hoping she would get box eight in this race but I would never knock back box one,'' Wilcox said.
"Burning Fuel is a railer but her problem is she is not too fast out of the starting boxes.
"JODIE Lagogiane's greyhound Blitzing Lass, who has box three, is a reliable beginner and she led throughout to win her heat in 30.07.
"But if Burning Fuel can be sitting behind her on the back straight she should be able to run her down.''
It's not often a Wentworth Park newcomer looks the best bet of the night but Zipping Bailey, from the Jason Mackay kennels, has the credentials to take out heat four of the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes.
This appears to be the weakest heat and Zipping Bailey, a good railer with a strong finishing burst, is well positioned in box two.
She has won her past two starts, over 472m at Bulli, by a combined total of more than 16 lengths, and won her first race, over 450m at Maitland on June 7, in 24.88sec, figures rarely recorded by a maiden youngster.
Mister Fernando is undefeated in three races from box one and looks good value to maintain his flawless red rug record in Saturday's fourth event, the 520m WP On Facebook Stakes.
Best Bet Zipping Bailey (race 10)
Best Value Mister Fernando (race 4)
Quaddie race 5 - 1, 4
Race 6 - 1, 3
Race 7 - 3, 1, 6
Race 8 - 1, 5, 7
$20 for 55.55%
