Ebby Ripper is marking time until she heads for the breeding barn but the Wentworth Park crowd favourite has a great chance of notching win number 29 at her 111th start at headquarters tonight.
Back from a brief NEW ZEALAND campaign, where she had a win and a second from four appearances against the best stayers in the Shaky Isles, Ebby Ripper has box seven in tonight's 720m Duke's Ladbrokes Previews Stakes.
Considering she has qualified for a remarkable 25 group race finals, Ebby Ripper should only need to be close to her peak to take out this fourth and fifth grade event.
"Since she came back from NEW ZEALAND nearly a month ago, Ebby Ripper has not been trialling, she has just been free galloping on our property at Oakville,'' trainer Michael Eberand said.
"That is the same preparation Ebby Ripper had before she resumed racing after a spell in a 520m race at Wentworth Park on February 6 when she flashed home to finish third to Zipping Bailey, who two months later won the Golden Easter Egg.
"Ebby Ripper is likely to have only two or three more races because as soon as she comes in season she will be retired to stud.''
Ebby Ripper has had 40 starts over tonight's 720m trip for 11 wins and 19 placings and has amassed earnings of over $288,000.
Grand Izmir has been placed just once in six Wentworth Park starts but box one gives the Frank Daros-trained greyhound a real shot at success in tonight's Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Grand Izmir had boxes seven and three when sixth at his past two Wentworth Park outings after flashing home when second to outstanding sprinter Hardaway Harada over 472m at Bulli on June 8.
"He had box two at Bulli and is a lot better from boxes one or two,'' trainer Frank Daros said.
"Grand Izmir's trouble is that he won't go around his rivals, he waits on the fence for a rails run, but he is very strong at the finish.
"Back in March he had box two in the Frank Kennedy Memorial final at Richmond and was up against top class greyhounds like King Cratos, My Mate Fox and Flowing.
"He was sent out a $41 chance but because he drew inside he flew home along the rails to win.''
Grand Izmir looms as tonight's main threat to likely favourite Bourbski Bar, who easily won an identical class race in a handy 30.13 at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Bourbski Bar, trained at Wallerawang by Ross Davidson, had box seven on Saturday and will wear the black rug again tonight.
Davidson has such a high opinion of the former Victoria-trained Bourbski Bar that he is contemplating nominating the dog for the National Sprint Championship heats at Wentworth Park on August 3.
Toca Madera is one of the few offspring of champion producer Chica Destacada that has not won at Wentworth Park but the John Finn-trained dog should rectify that anomaly tonight.
Toca Madera came from box eight for a fifth at WP on June 22 and wore the pink rug again when fourth at Richmond last Friday night.
But he is well suited in box two in tonight's wentworthpark.com.au Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, and should open his city account.
Toca Madera has had a win and two thirds from five starts with his sole success being from box two in a 400m maiden event at Richmond on June 14.
While Toca Medera appeals as tonight's stand-out bet, the best value wager should be noted front-runner Naturally Gifted, who has box one in race two, a 520m fifth grade.
Naturally Gifted has jumped in front and led all the way in two recent wins, over 520m at Wentworth Park and 515m at LADBROKES GARDENS, and trainer Ron Lambert will be delighted at seeing his greyhound in the rails trap tonight.
Naturally Gifted had boxes four and eight in each of those wins but Lambert has always preferred seeing his greyhound drawn as close to the rails as possible.
Best Bet Toca Madera (race 4)
Best Value Naturally Gifted (race 2)
Quaddie race 5 - 7, 6, 5
Race 6 - 8, 6
Race 7 - 8, 4, 5
Race 8 - 1, 5, 3
$20 for 37.03%
