Ritza Coen took no "physical harm" from his last start tumble at Richmond and could be ready to live up to his outstanding Dapto form in Saturday night's Garry Bennett TAB Tribute Stakes at Wentworth Park.
Ritza Coen is well drawn in box two in the 520m fifth grade race after winning from that draw in a slick 30.04 at Dapto on October 10.
The dog overcame early trouble to win at Dapto after clocking a near record 29.54 in a 520m performance trial there on October 3.
"When he fell at his most recent start at Richmond, it was the second time Ritza Coen had taken a tumble at that track,'' trainer Mark Gatt said.
"That's why I have brought him to Wentworth Park, rather than take him back to Richmond.
"Ritza Coen came through his latest fall unscathed, but there is always a concern it could affect him mentally.
"He has a lot of ability but has had absolutely no luck so far.
"In his favour on Saturday night, apart from the good draw, is that he is in the first race, and being in an early event suits this dog.''
Nowra trainer Garry Edwards is hoping tactics he employed successfully with his former smart bitch Maya Herrera will help Dual Focus open her Wentworth Park account in Saturday night's Bradstreet Building Services Stakes.
Dual Focus had no luck when unplaced at Wentworth Park on September 25, missing the jump, running wide on the first bend and then being checked when in third position and running home well, approaching the home turn.
But at her most recent race at Dapto, Dual Focus began fast from box seven, carved across to the rails, and led throughout to win easily in smart time.
"Early in Maya Herrera's career I took her out for the pre race stir-ups but she kept missing the jump,'' Edwards recalled.
"She won only two of her first 13 starts but after I kept her in the kennels for the stir-up she settled down better in the boxes and started getting away smartly, winning another dozen races.
"Until Dapto I took Dual Focus out for the stir-up but for her last run I kept her in the kennels and she began far better than previously.
"So on Saturday night Dual Focus will be absent when the dogs come out for the pre race stir-up and hopefully that will make her begin cleanly again.
"I have always considered Dual Focus wanted an outside box but while she has box two on Saturday, she did rail well at Dapto so hopefully she will use the inside draw this week.''
Trainer Glen McKinley has always regarded China O'Brien as a stayer of the future and her most recent Wentworth Park 720m outing indicates she is ready to fulfil his expectations.
China O'Brien set up a big early lead in a 720m fourth and fifth grade at Wentworth Park on November 13 before being run down and beaten a head by Dublin Lad, a group one finalist.
China O'Brien drops in class to fifth grade in Saturday night's 720m Ladbrokes Cash In Stakes and appeals as the best bet of the night.
While she had box four in clocking a tidy 42.36 when finishing second earlier this month, China O'Brien is better suited drawn wide in seven on Saturday as she tends to use plenty of the track.
Best Bet China O'Brien (race 3)
Best Value Dual Focus (race 6)
Quaddie race 5 - 2, 1, 6
Race 6 - 2, 7
Race 7 - 4, 7, 8
Race 8 - 1, 7, 5
$20 for 37.03%
