WHEN Fire On Ice won her heat in easily the fastest time she was having her first look at Wentworth Park and her initial test over 520m so she looks the one to beat in Saturday night's final of the NSW Bred Maiden Series.
The Mark Moroney-trained Fire On Ice led all the way to win her heat in 30.21, with Red Hot Tears, who also led throughout, next quickest with a 30.47 effort for the 520m.
"On sectional time Fire On Ice should be the pacemaker again,'' Moroney said.
"In the heats her first split was 5.41sec while Red Hot Tears clocked 5.55, so unless she misses the jump Fire On Ice should lead at the first turn.
"She pulled up well after the heats and I put her up the straight on my local trial track at Redhead on Tuesday and she clocked 15.94, just a tick slower than the 15.83 she posted before her Wenty heat win.
"There is no reason why she should not improve on her heat run because I had not previously trialled her at Wentworth Park and the longest race she had been in was over 440m at Goulburn.
"She had earlier had a post-to-post slip at LADBROKES GARDENS but had not been tried beyond 500 metres until I took her to Wenty for the Maiden heats.''
Leading Melbourne trainer Andrea Dailly is bringing a dozen greyhounds to Wentworth Park on Saturday night, including exciting Chaser Jaro Bale, winner of the Richmond regional final of the TAB Million Dollar Chase on September 20.
Jaro Bale began brilliantly from box four to win his Chase final in near record time of 30.11sec for the 535m, after winning his Richmond heat from box three in 30.53.
The dog has drawn box seven for his Wentworth Park debut in Saturday's eighth event, a 520m fourth grade, but Dailly's husband Tom does not believe the wide draw will affect their dog.
"Jaro Bale likes a bit of room to move so box seven should not worry him at all,'' Tom Dailly said.
Pacquiao Bale, who did not contest any regional Million Dollar Chase events, look to have the form to win race nine, a 520m fifth grade, for the Dailly kennel.
"This dog has a big motor but in recent races in Melbourne he has been missing the jump,'' Tom Dailly said.
"So I began doing some box practice with him on Wednesday to try and get him to come out cleanly on Saturday night.''
Shima Shine, who toppled local hero Pindari Express in the Bulli regional final of the TAB Million Dollar Chase, will make his first Wentworth Park appearance for "team Dailly'' in Saturday night's final event, a 520m fifth grade.
Shima Shine had his first look at Wenty before race one last Saturday and went brilliantly, posting dazzling sectional times of 5.42, 13.76 and 17.88 before covering the 520m in a 'flying' 29.81.
On Saturday Shima Shine has box seven and while the dog has won two of his three races when drawn in seven and eight, Tom Dailly believes his chances this week depend on how the dog jumps.
"The wide box itself won't concern him because he will charge through the field like a bulldog if he is not in front,'' Dailly said.
"But if he does miss the kick Shima Shine's prospects hinge on whether he gets a clear run through the field when he is making his charge.''
Saturday's best bet should be Zipping Potter, chasing his third successive Wentworth Park Masters win in race six, over 520m, while My Mate Fox appeals as good value in race two.
My Mate Fox has box one and is seeking his fourth win in five appearances while wearing the red rug.
Saturday's meeting also features the return to Wentworth Park of crowd favourite Feral Franky, who looks a safe bet after drawing box two in race five, a 520m Free-For-Alll.
Best Be:t Zipping Potter (race 6)
Best Value: My Mate Fox (race 2)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 2, 1, 8
Race 6 - 2, 4, 8
Race 7 - 8, 3
Race 8 - 7, 8
$20 for 55.55%
