Buck’s Future will be nominated for the heats of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup if he performs as well as trainer Syd Swain expects in tonight's top grade Wentworth Park race, the 520m Ladbrokes Daily Video Stakes.
Heats of the Melbourne Cup will be held on November 16 with the $435,000 to the winner final over 515m at Sandown a week later.
"To be eligible for a heat draw a greyhound must contest a Cup Prelude so I took Buck's Future to Sandown on October 25,'' Swain said.
"While he finished sixth, his run was better than it looks on paper as he missed the kick before hitting the running rail and then running into a dead-end.
"Buck's Future's has been runner-up in two of his past three Wentworth Park starts but while his overall recent form does not look too flash he is trialling better than that suggests.
"Box one suits him so if he begins cleanly Buck's Future should run a big race at Wenty.''
Swain's greyhound has worn the red rug on five occasions for three wins and has an ideal draw, with wide runner Nino De Oro in box two and slow beginners in boxes three and four.
Zipping Poppy, who has had nine provincial starts for five wins and three placings, makes her keenly anticipated Wentworth Park debut in tonight's opening event, the 520m Ladbrokes Multimaker Stakes.
"She is perfectly drawn in box one and while Zipping Poppy has not raced at Wentworth Park she has run a couple of quick trials for me there,'' trainer Jason Mackay said.
"While she is no world-beater Zipping Poppy has a good turn of speed and from box one in a fifth grade she should be hard to beat.''
Leading Newcastle trainer Ron Bell has not had a city starter since Wentworth Park resumed racing in September but he will bring four greyhounds to headquarters tonight.
Probably his best prospect is Wentworth Park newcomer Aunty Val, who has box three in the 520m LADBROKES GARDENS to Wenty Final.
Aunty's Val's 30sec win was quickest of the three qualifying heats for tonight's race and her second sectional time of 17.49sec was fastest of the qualifiers.
"She has box three and that will suit her because she wants to be drawn near the fence,'' Bell said.
"Aunty Val had been sidelined for two months before returning to lead all the way in her heat win at The Gardens.
"Before the heats last Friday I gave her a post-to-post trial at LADBROKES GARDENS and when she went well I decided to rush her into this series.
"Aunty Val has not been trialled or raced at Wentworth Park but she can show good early zip.''
Fancy Irene was desperately unlucky when second, from box eight, at Wentworth Park last Wednesday, and should only need a clear run from box four to take out tonight's eighth event, a 520m fifth grade.
The Cliff Bell-trained Fancy Irene was slowly away and was checked at the first turn before finishing on tenaciously to beat all but Dyna Chill in a similar race last week.
Her Wentworth Park form is hard to fault as she has registered two wins and a trio of second placings in just five outings at the track.
It's A Danger has been costly to Wenty punters but box one gives the Mark Gatt-trained greyhound a great opportunity of opening his city account in race nine, the 520m Ladbrokes Info Hub Stakes.
In 19 previous starts It's A Danger has not drawn the rails alley but he has won two of his four assignments from box two.
When he beat all but the placegetters in Esther's Bella's race at Wentworth Park last Wednesday It's A Danger lost all chance at the start by veering hard left from box six and colliding heavily with another greyhound.
Best Bet Zipping Poppy (race 1)
Best Value Buck's Future (race 5)
Quaddie race 5 - 1, 6, 8
Race 6 - 5, 6, 1
Race 7 - 8, 2
Race 8 - 4, 1, 2
$20 for 37.03%
