Ballows Freak was taking ground off the flying Turbo Thomas at the finish of a Richmond 400m race on November 20 so should relish the additional 120m of Saturday night's Ground Dog Day Classic at Wentworth Park.
Turbo Thomas, himself a Wentworth Park 520m winner, notched his 13th successive win when he led throughout at Richmond but Ballows Freak got to the line powerfully, indicating he is ready to step up and win Saturday's longer race.
At Richmond the Mark Ballantine-trained Ballows Freak was having only his second start after a long spell and that performance should have him perfectly primed for Wenty, where he has posted a sizzling 29.77s for the 520m journey.
Ballows Freak should only need to leave the boxes cleanly to lead throughout, as the dogs drawn in boxes two and three are not renowned for their speed and the other likely front-runners, Djay Holden, Elusive Wave and Scorched, are poorly positioned in boxes five, six and seven.
When he won in 29.77 at Wentworth Park on February 27, Ballows Freak exited box three and railed through to lead at the first turn.
His next Wentworth Park win, in a slick 29.91, was on April 10 when, after bungling the start from box two, Ballows Freak railed into second position on the back straight and defeated Bad Ronnie, whose subsequent form at headquarters has been first class.
Zipping Brady, unbeaten in two provincial starts over 535m at Richmond, is expected to make a winning Wentworth Park debut in Saturday's Kearsley Hotel Quaddie Club Stakes, 520m.
Zipping Brady has box one with trainer Robbie Tyler declaring: "He could not be drawn better.
"Before his first start, in a maiden heat at Richmond on November 8, Zipping Brady trialled 30.50 for the 535m there, a hot run for an unraced puppy.
"When he won his heat in only 31.04 I was disappointed but in hindsight I was being hard on him because it was blowing a gale that day and the fastest time of the meeting was 30.75.
"Zipping Brady proved that when he came out and won the maiden final a week later in 30.65, a time far more in keeping with the dog's ability.''
Hardest for Zipping Brady to beat is sure to be the CHRIS Carl-trained Run By Night, who has been placed at Wentworth Park and won over 450m at Maitland on November 14 in a nippy 25.21.
Carl and Tyler are friendly but ferociously keen rivals with Tyler quipping: "If CHRIS' dog Run By Night beats Zipping Brady I might have to move interstate, he will be unbearable.''
Brilliant beginner Guy Incognito, who has been placed in four of seven Wentworth Park starts, gets his chance to break through for a city win in Saturday's Peter Brattier Stakes, 520m.
Guy Incognito set up a big early lead before being run down by powerful finisher Blue Summer Sky at his most recent Wentworth Park 520m start and made the pace again in a 515m race at Gosford on Tuesday, when overhauled in the straight by another strong dog, Zipping Phil.
"I have uncovered a minor dewclaw problem with Guy Incognito and while I am sure it wasn't worrying him, I am pleased it has been cleared up,'' trainer Carole Eaton said.
"Guy Incognito pulled up well after his second at Gosford on Tuesday and looks really well boxed in two on Saturday.''
Guy Incognito is a keen railer and while he has won just one from 11 starts from boxes six, seven and eight, he has won two from six out of boxes one, two and three.
Zipping Potter, a strong finishing third to Rockstar Prince in the GRNSW Middle Distance Championship final over 600m at Dapto on November 21, should appreciate the drop in class to Saturday night's Bacardi Rum Masters Stakes.
This 520m event for veteran greyhounds represents a massive plunge in grade for Zipping Potter, who has won seven races at Wentworth Park.
The Jason Magri-trained Zipping Potter was runner-up in the Group 1 Hume Cup over 600m at Melbourne's The Meadows on November 4 and won three consecutive Wentworth Park Masters' races in September, toppling stars like Spring Creek Bill, Cosmic Bonus and Blabba Mouth in the process.
Best Bet Zipping Brady (race 10)
Best Value Ballows Freak (race 5)
Quaddie race 5 - 1, 6, 8
Race 6 - 4, 1, 8
Race 7 - 5, 1, 8
Race 8 - 5, 1
$20 for 37.03%
