Nangar Blaze has not raced in over four months but the highly talented sprinter is "firing on all cylinders'' and ready to win first-up at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night.
The Michael Hardman-trained greyhound, who has won three races at Wentworth Park and has posted a brilliant 29.85 for the 520m trip there, has box three in the Find Us On Facebook Stakes, a fourth and fifth grade event.
Nangar Blaze has had a win and a third from his past four starts in top grade at headquarters so looks well placed in Wednesday's easier race.
"After he raced at Wentworth Park on January 12 I sent him to Melbourne for some events but he got hurt and had to come home,'' Hardman said.
"When I got him right he injured a hock so it has been a lengthy process getting him back.
"But Nangar Blaze is going as well as ever and when I trialled him over 520m at Wenty last week he clocked 30 seconds flat, which should make him competitive this week.
"After his Wentworth Park trial I gave him a hit-out at Richmond against a dual city winner and Nangar Blaze won the trial by four lengths.''
Promising provincial sprinter Sir Duke makes his first Wentworth Park appearance in Wednesday night's ladbrokes.com.au Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Sir Duke was runner-up in fast time at Richmond over 535m on Friday and has had nine provincial outings for three wins and three seconds.
"He is no super star but is a more than handy dog,'' trainer Ray Webster said.
"Sir Duke has not raced at Wenty but has had a trial there so knows his way around the track.
"Given a clear run and a good start I think he is capable of breaking 30 seconds for the 520m there.
"My worry is his box five draw because Sir Duke is likely to crash left in the run to the first corner, so an inside box would have been preferable.''
Providing she can clear Sir Duke at box rise, the Ruth Matic-trained Jebrynah Green, who has box four, looks the hardest to beat in this race.
At her only Wentworth Park outing on May 11 Jebrynah Green showed good early speed and made all the running to the home turn before finishing second to noted strong finisher Blue Summer Sky.
Dreamin' Is Free, a younger half-sister to crack stayers Poco Dorado, Blue Moon Rising and Veloce Nero, makes her long-distance debut in Wednesday night's second heat of the 720m Ladbrokes Monthly Medal.
Dreamin' Is Free flashed home to finish second and third at her past two Wentworth Park starts, over 520m, so should relish the extra 200m of Wednesday's race.
She is a good railer so is ideally positioned in box one.
Gemma Nismo failed to beat one home at her only Wentworth Park appearance on April 24 but that ran should be forgotten when assessing form for Wednesday's fifth race, a 520m fifth grade.
Gemma Nismo had box three in her Wenty debut but lost all chance when chopped off at box rise by a rival veering towards the rails.
Since that run the Tony Mason-trained Gemma Nismo has scored a runaway win over 515m at LADBROKES GARDENS, beginning brilliantly and leading throughout in a fast 29.63sec.
With a couple of wide runners drawn outside her, Gemma Nismo looks a safe bet from box one on Wednesday.
Best Bet Nangar Blaze (race 8)
Best Value Gemma Nismo (race 5)
Quaddie race 5 - 1, 4, 6
Race 6 - 2, 3
Race 7 - 4, 5, 2
Race 8 - 3, 8, 2
$20 for 37.03%
