Simon Told Helen, who was expected to set a scorching pace in Friday night's Ladbrokes National Derby, won't start due to a spider bite while Aston Sapporo, second fastest heat winner, will also miss the big race.
Simon Told Helen was bitten by a spider "sometime last weekend'' according to trainer David Burnett and while the wound on the dog's hind leg has healed connections decided not to risk their Queensland Derby and Silver Chief Classic winner.
Trainer Jason MACKAY had to pull out Aston Sapporo on Thursday morning with the dog succumbing to a toe injury.
MACKAY's Derby prospects now rest with Hard Style Rico, who ran down Simon Told Helen in the fastest heat, and who is now all the rage for the Group 1 Wentworth Park final.
Hard Style Rico, who joined MACKAY's kennels from Victoria earlier this month, finished sixth in Simon Told Helen's Silver Chief Classic final at The Meadows on January 4.
But Hard Style Rico had gone into that race as the fastest qualifier, winning his heat in 29.63 before being unplaced in the 29.68 final.
The withdrawals of two of the favourites boost the prospects of Here Comes Joe, who was making his Wentworth Park debut when he won his heat 30.01 and who has drawn the prized rails box in the final.
Crack trainer Jason Thompson concedes he has some concern about Aston Silk being checked at the start but is otherwise pleased to see his undefeated youngster in box seven in Friday night's group 1 Ladbrokes National Futurity at Wentworth Park.
Aston Silk notched her fourth win in as many starts when she led throughout from box one to win her heat in 29.98, while Aston Maeve also remained unbeaten after four races by winning her heat in 29.87.
Fastest time was the 29.86 posted by Zipping Veyron, trained, like Aston Maeve, by Jason MACKAY.
Paul Abela, trainer of Aston Perignon, who has box eight in the Futurity, expects his greyhound to veer left at box rise and fears that could ruin Aston Silk's chances.
But Thompson said: "Although Aston Silk has won each of her four races from boxes one and two, I wanted to see her drawn in the middle or out wide in the Futurity final.
"So far she has been a good beginner but she likes to get off the track a little.
"Zipping Veyron recorded brilliant splits in her heat win so I did not want Aston Silk to be drawn inside her in the final.
"There is a chance Aston Perignon will get her at the start but I figure that if Aston Silk is going to win the Futurity, she is going to have to jump in front of that greyhound.''
While Jason MACKAY has garnered plenty of attention through having the two fastest qualifiers in the Futurity and also the fastest in Friday night's National Derby, owner-breeder Ray Borda has three starters in the Futurity. He would have had a Derby runner too had Aston Sapporo not been scratched.
Borda has Aston Maeve, Aston Silk and Aston Perignon in the Futurity Final.
"I must admit to being a bit worried about having multiple finalists in the Futurity because many years ago, in a Puppy Classic in Adelaide, I had two finalists and they knocked each other over,'' Borda said.
"But I'm rapt that Aston Maeve and Aston Silk, who were whelped by Aston Miley and Aston Selena, both litter sisters to my former champion Aston Dee Bee, are unbeaten going into the final.''
Feral Franky pulled up well after his amazing win in his Ladbrokes Paws Of Thunder heat last Saturday night and is raring to go in Friday night's group 1 final.
"He is as good as gold and all I did with him this week was to work him along on my property at FORBES,'' trainer Jack Smith said.
"That is his normal routine so I have not done anything different in the lead-up to the Paws final.''
Despite being the slowest heat winner, Feral Franky is a red hot favourite to win after drawing box one.
Just Terms was a fast finishing second to Blazing Cartier in her heat but moving from box eight to box two in Friday night's Ladbrokes Summer Distance Plate final gives her a great chance of reversing that result.
"Just Terms is desperate for an inside box and in last week's heat she just couldn't get to the rails,'' trainer Jodie Lord said.
"Another dog held her out wide for much of the race.
"If Just Terms is three lengths off the lead going through the catching pen on Friday she will be winning because she is so strong.''
Best Bet Feral Franky (race 8)
Best Value Nangar Diva (race 10)
Quaddie race 5 - 1, 4, 7
Race 6 - 5, 1, 3
Race 7 - 2, 1
Race 8 - 1, 3, 8
$20 for 37.03%
