Poco Dorado, the "queen" of Wentworth Park, is tipped to make a successful return to headquarters after six weeks' absence in Saturday night's second heat of the Group 3 Wentworth Park Gold Cup.
Poco Dorado has compiled the astonishing record of 11 wins and a third from a dozen races over the 720m Cup course, and while she has been unplaced at her past two starts at The Meadows and Richmond she is expected to win on Saturday.
Melinda Finn, whose husband John trains the champion stayer, said: "We trialled Poco Dorado over 520m at Wenty after the final race last week and she clocked 29.85, so she is going as well as ever.
"There will be no excuses if she is beaten on Saturday because she is back on her favourite track and looks to have a nice draw.
"Poco Dorado has box two and her kennelmate and litter brother Blue Moon Rising, who has drawn three, should not worry her in the run to the first turn.
"Blue Moon Rising is likely to run in a straight line from the starting boxes to the corner.
"Ebby Ripper, in box one, can sometimes come out all right but Poco Dorado should only need to begin cleanly to be up near the early lead.''
Veloce Nero and Two Times Twice, kennelmates and siblings of Poco Dorado and Blue Moon Rising, take on up-and-coming stayer That's Lil Vicki in heat one of the Gold Cup.
Veloce Nero was a certainty beaten when second over a less suitable 520m trip at Wentworth Park last Saturday and is well positioned in box three.
She is a good railer and her brother Two Times Twice, who has box four, is a wide runner who is likely to "run cover'' for his sister.
But Melinda Finn concedes That's Lil Vicki looks hard to beat.
"That's Lil Vicki has box one and the way they are drawn, she looks as if she will go straight to the front when the boxes open,'' Finn said.
That's Lil Vicki, trained at Grafton by Dave Irwin, was untried as a stayer when she led throughout at her Wentworth Park 720m debut on March 2, clocking a slick 42.08.
She has since returned to her home track and won by 13 lengths in near record time last Monday over 610m.
Before her Wentworth Park long-distance win, trainer Dave Irwin said: "That's Lil Vicki has not been trialled over 720m but I am confident she will see out the distance.
"And if she does prove she can stay, she will run good time.''
Irwin was spot on, with That's Lil Vicki's figures only .28sec slower than the more experienced Veloce Nero's personal best Wentworth Park 720m time, while well outside Poco Dorado's near record finest of 41.68.
Buck's Future will make his final Wentworth Park appearance before next month's Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg heats when he exits box one in Saturday night's 520m Free-For-All.
Buck's Future has registered just two thirds from his past five starts at The Meadows, Richmond and Maitland, but trainer Syd Swain says the dog is going well.
"At his last start at Maitland, in a heat of the Gold Cup on March 14, Buck's Future jumped well but stumbled soon after, and rattled home to finish fifth,'' Swain said.
"In his three races at The Meadows he missed the kick and I will concede he is hit or miss out of the boxes.
"He can't afford to miss the jump on Saturday night but if he nails the start, as he can do at times, he will be hard to beat.
"Box one might help drag him out cleanly and since his last race I have given him a short post-to-post slip at Richmond and he went well.
"Buck's Future is known as a strong finisher but it is his mid-race speed which wins him his races.
"After Saturday night I don't plan to race him again at Wenty until the Easter Egg heats on April 6.''
Swain knows what it takes to win a Golden Easter Egg, having trained the 2003 winner Cyrus The Virus.
Best Bet Poco Dorado (race 6)
Best Value Buck's Future (race 8)
Quaddie race 5 - 1, 3
Race 6 - 2, 3, 4
Race 7 - 1, 6, 5
Race 8 - 1, 6, 7
$20 for 37.03%
