Poco Dorado has a reputation for being suited from wide draws but she handled box two ideally in her heat and connections believe she can put in a repeat performance in Saturday night's final of the group 3 Wentworth Park Gold Cup.
Last Saturday night Poco Dorado began brilliantly from box two and led throughout, covering the 720m in 42.15, while her sister and kennelmate Veloce Nero exited box three and was third early before winning in 41.99.
Trainer John Finn will provide 50 per cent of Saturday's final field, as Poco Dorado and Veloce Nero's super siblings Blue Moon Rising (box two) and Two Times Twice (eight) have also qualified.
Blue Moon Rising had box three and finished third to Poco Dorado in his heat while Two Times Twice, beaten three lengths into fourth place by Veloce Nero, moves from box four last week to box eight in the final.
Finn's wife Melinda expects Poco Dorado to win again but believes Two Times Twice is set to run a big race.
"Poco Dorado's box two draw looks good because Boom Down, the dog in box one, does not usually begin fast and neither does Blue Moon Rising, who has drawn three,'' Finn said.
"If Poco Dorado begins as smartly as she did last week, and she usually gets away cleanly, she looks boxed to lead all the way.
"Veloce Nero's run last week was super but she has box five and Kihael Road and Little Digger, who have drawn six and seven, tend to veer towards the rails so her draw is awkward.
"Two Times Twice is our best boxed runner because he loves the outside draw and while he has won only one from five 720m races at Wenty, last week's heat run was his best yet.
"Although he finished just behind the placegetters, he recorded 42.23, the fastest time he has ever clocked for the Wentworth Park long-distance journey.''
The first Sydney appearances of outstanding Victorian sprinters Blue Striker and Extra Gear add much interest to Saturday night's Wentworth Park card.
Blue Striker has box five in race five, a Golden Easter Egg Prelude, 520m, while Extra Gear has box seven in race six, another Egg Prelude.
Blue Striker stunned Melbourne racegoers at Sandown on March 21 when he gave champion Poke The Bear a start and a beating over 595m.
The Peter Akathiotis-trained Blue Striker has scored 12 wins and 16 placings from 36 starts while Extra Gear, prepared by Ray Henness, has won 21 of 62 appearances.
At his most recent outing Extra Gear came from fifth in the early stages and fourth on the home turn to win over 525m at The Meadows last Saturday.
The dog had been hampered crossing to the rails from box six in the charge to the first turn so had to produce a powerhouse finish to win.
Hardest for Blue Striker to beat looks to be the Frank Hurst-trained Good Odds Buddy, who was desperately unlucky when third at Wentworth Park last Saturday night.
Good Odds Buddy has box seven while his litter brother and kennelmate Good Odds Harada has box six in race three, a 520m fourth and fifth grade.
Good Odds Harada led throughout to record his personal best Wentworth Park time of 29.73 after jumping from box three last Saturday while Good Odds Buddy has clocked 29.77 at headquarters.
"I would prefer them drawn closer to the rails but they are going well enough to have a chance wherever they are boxed,'' Hurst said.
"They each trialled well up the straight at Appin on Tuesday morning so are raring to go.
"There is not much between them, with Good Odds Buddy probably a fraction quicker but Good Odds Harada a slightly better race dog.''
Hurst's pair are being set for the group 3 New Sensation heats at Wentworth Park on April 10.
Best Bet Poco Dorado (race 7)
Best Value Off The Leash (race 6)
Quaddie race 5 - 7, 5
Race 6 - 2, 7, 8
Race 7 - 2, 4, 8
Race 8 - 1, 4, 6
$20 for 37.03%
