Little Digger took a tumble at the first turn when sent out a hot favourite at his most recent race but a slick trial at Gunnedah suggests he has taken no harm from the mishap and will be hard to beat at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
These days Little Digger is better known as a middle or long distance dog but he has won 10 of 28 Wentworth Park 520m outings and posted a sizzling 29.77s over that course 12 months ago.
The Jack Smith-trained Little Digger has box six in Saturday night's 520m Ladbrokes Odds Boost Masters' Stakes and should only need a clear run to win comfortably.
"I took him to Gunnedah last Saturday when I was trialling Feral Franky for the Million Dollar Chase heats there,'' Smith said.
"Feral Franky covered the 527m in track record time of 29.82s but Little Digger went quick too, recording 30.20.
"Although Little Digger was about four-tenths slower than Feral Franky it was as good as I expected him to run at this stage of his career.''
What Time Smoko, who startled Wenty regulars with a blistering 29.76s win on debut there in May, is tipped to make a successful return to headquarters in Saturday night's ARS Tech Sprint Stakes, 520m.
What Time Smoko has box three and trainer Jeff Alaban believes the dog is ready to pick up where he left off in May.
"On June 8, at his only Wentworth Park race after his first-up win, What Time Smoko tore a hip support,'' Alaban said.
"It has taken a long while to get him back to racing but I was very happy with his second, behind his kennelmate Lavish Pedro, at Nowra last Saturday.
"What Time Smoko was having his first 520m race in nearly three months and should be improved by the run.
"I have a high opinion of this dog and am trying to get him into the up-coming Million Dollar Chase.
"He is going as well now as when he won in fast time at Wenty in May.
"My other dog Lavish Pedro has finished fourth at his only two Wentworth Park starts but he is going better now and has a chance in his race on Saturday night too.''
Lavish Pedro has box four in the 520m Ladbrokes Cash In Stakes, but has a tricky draw.
This promises to be a keen betting race as Mr Grey, ideally drawn in box one, was an impressive Gosford winner on Tuesday night while Manooka, from the in-form Tim Caines kennel, is a wide runner so is nicely placed in box seven.
Caines landed a winning double with Nangar Jack and More More More at Wentworth Park on Wednesday while on Saturday his good friend, fellow trainer Mark Gatt, has a chance of snaring a treble.
Gatt's chances are Vouchers, who has box four in the wentworthpark.com.au Stakes, He's All Shine (box one, The Golden Handshake Stakes) and Rita's Boy (box four, Jingle & Mingle Stakes).
Vouchers and Rita's Boy have been racing consistently at Wentworth Park while He's All Shine returns to headquarters after a fast finishing second over a less suitable 400m at Bulli on August 19.
He's All Shine had box one when third, beaten a head and a half head, in a semi-final of the group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg over 520m at Wentworth Park on April 13.
Poacher and Snazzy Ethics, who won at Wentworth Park on Wednesday, have effectively "beaten the grader'' when they clash in the Ladbrokes Cash Out Stakes.
Poacher had box four and Snazzy Ethics six when they scored on Wednesday, but each has drawn better on Saturday, with Poacher in one and Snazzy Ethics in two.
Best Bet Rita's Boy (race 10)
Best Value Really Unreal (race 7)
Quaddie race 5 - 4, 8, 6
Race 6 - 3, 7, 2
Race 7 - 8, 2
Race 8 - 1, 6, 7
$20 for 37.03%
