BLUE Moon Rising has not raced or trialled at LADBROKES GARDENS but that lack of experience should be offset by the dog's box one draw in Saturday night's Newy Commercial Refrigeration Stakes at the Newcastle circuit.
The John Finn-trained Blue Moon Rising made his middle distance debut when a luckless fourth, from box seven, over 618m at Richmond on August 25 before winning in a nippy 34.70sec over 600m at Dapto five nights later.
The Dapto win was outstanding as Blue Moon Rising drew poorly in box eight and was last at the first turn before working his way across to the rails to be fourth on the back straight.
He then powered home along the inside fence to win easily and as a winner of five races at Wentworth Park, Blue Moon Rising, who was runner-up in the NSW final of the National Sprint Championship on August 9, looks a class above his rivals.
His litter sister Poco Dorado (pictured), who took out the state final of the National Distance Championship, is also having her first "look'' at LADBROKES GARDENS in Saturday's opening event.
Poco Dorado has box four in the Welcome To Newcastle Greys Stakes over 715m and is poised to stage a duel with local hero Lochinvar Hugo, who has box three.
Lochinvar Hugo has the advantage of having been virtually brought up at LADBROKES GARDENS, where he has won three of his four appearances.
Cheeky Tunes is making her middle distance debut in Saturday's Awesome Project Stakes but owner Gordon Sciberras is confident she will run the 600m trip strongly.
Cheeky Tunes, who has box two, is a litter sister to NSW Sprint Championship winner Sky Wave and to Ella Enchanted, who has won three races over 600m at The Meadows and 595m at Sandown.
"My greyhound tends to fall out of the boxes so drawing two is a big help, it might even drag her out a bit quicker,'' Sciberras said.
"Vic Sultana, who trains Cheeky Tunes, has always believed she would run a middle distance.''
The class runner in Cheeky Tunes' race is Curtain Call, who has box eight and who has won three races at Wentworth Park.
Curtain Call is well drawn out wide but trainer Jody Gordon is not confident.
"He has never seen the LADBROKES GARDENS course so is at a bit of a disadvantage,'' Gordon said.
"I am a bit concerned that if he goes straight to the front, he might burn himself out by the home turn, so he might be better off sitting just behind the pace.''
Liberty Lee, who has been competing with top grade sprinters, should relish tackling other veterans in Saturday's Mobile Money Masters Stakes, 515m.
The Betty Keene-trained Liberty Lee contested the Group 2 Sires On Ice Black Top series at LADBROKES GARDENS late last month and won in a fast 29.59sec against top graders at the track on August 7.
"Being over four years old Liberty Lee is finding it a bit hard against the younger dogs but she is pretty close to her peak,'' Keene said.
"She is inclined to play up in her kennel on race night so being in an early event, race two, is a big help to her chances.''
Liberty Lee's fastest time at LADBROKES GARDENS is 29.50sec so she was only .09sec outside her personal best when she won there last month.
Best Bet Blue Moon Rising (race 6)
Best Value Liberty Lee (race 2)
Quaddie race 5 - 4, 1, 3
Race 6 - 1, 4,
Race 7 - 2, 4, 8
Race 8 - 6, 5, 8
$20 for 37.03%
