Melbourne Cup winning trainer Anthony Azzopardi believes Fernando's Riot, who has box four in heat three of Saturday night's Paws Of Thunder at Wentworth Park, is his best chance of having yet another group 1 finalist.
In April Fernando's Riot made his sole Wentworth Park appearance in a heat of the New Sensation and after being badly checked at the first turn, rattled home to finish third to the mighty Feral Franky.
"Fernando's Riot's draw on Saturday might be better than it looks on paper, because Buck's Future, who has box three, wants to rail while Aston Duke, who has drawn five, runs straight from the boxes to the first corner,'' Azzopardi said.
"Fernando's Riot has won two of his past four starts, at Sale and Sandown, and is flying at the moment.
"Seal The Deal, the dog I have in heat two of the Paws, is also a good chance because he has drawn eight, and that is his favourite box.
"He is a risky beginner but can occasionally nail the start and if he does he will give this race a shake, because he has won five of his 10 races from box eight.
"Although he has not raced at Wenty, I gave Seal The Deal a trial there and he went well.''
Azzopardi acknowledges Seal The Deal's toughest rival could be the Andrea Dailly-trained Jaro Bale, who has box four.
Dailly's husband Tom said: "Jaro Bale is a good chasing dog and has a turn of early pace.
"He is racing well too, winning in the best time of the night at The Meadows at his last start.''
Best NSW hopes in the Thunder are obviously Good Odds Harada, who has box eight in heat one, and Feral Franky, drawn on the rails in heat four.
Good Odds Harada, the TAB Million Dollar Chase winner, had box eight when he won a heat of the Gold Bullion at Albion Park on January 2 and has won 10 of 21 Wentworth Park races.
The Jeff Britton-trained Western Enjoy looks his main danger but this dog is resuming from a short spell.
"After he finished second in a heat of the Silver Chief at The Meadows on December 28 Western Envoy was a bit 'flat' so I gave him a break,'' Britton said.
"He has not trialled again since so is going into this race nice and fresh.''
Although Feral Franky has won four of seven starts from box one, trainer Raymond Smith says the dog will need room to move in heat four.
"He handles box one okay providing nothing comes across on top of him in the run to the first turn,'' Smith said.
"Feral Franky has not been trialled since finishing third to Sennachie in the Gold Bullion final at Albion Park on January 10 but has been worked along on my property at FORBES and is fit enough.''
Two heats of the 720m Summer Distance Plate provide a great sidelight to Saturday's four Paws Of Thunder heats with the second qualifying race far stronger than the opening heat.
Just Terms is awkwardly drawn in box eight but should only need a clear run to win heat one, while crack Victorian stayers Boom Down, box two, and True Detective, box one, will be favoured ahead of Blue Moon Rising (four) and Weblec Eagle (seven) in heat two.
"True Detective is unbeaten in five races from box one but has not seen Wenty Park before,'' trainer Jeff Britton said.
"Previously he has not been too comfortable when having his first look at a track but hopefully box one will make up for that.''
Boom Down, whose three Wentworth Park wins have included a sizzling 41.97 effort, is raring to go according to Tom Dailly, whose wife Andrea trains the dog.
"Boom Down is going as well as ever and being drawn near the fence in box two is a big plus,'' Dailly said.
Best Bet Boom Down (race 4)
Best Value Fernando's Riot (race 7)
Quaddie race 5 - 8, 2, 1
Race 6 - 4, 8
Race 7 - 4, 6, 5
Race 8 - 1, 3, 8
$20 for 37.03%
