Crack Victorian trainers Kel and Jacqui Greenough have sent young stayer It's A Flirt to leading NSW conditioner Jason Mackay for a Sydney campaign and expect their greyhound to win first-up at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night.
At 28 months of age It's A Flirt is not only the youngest but also least experienced stayer in the 720m Ladbrokes Odds Boost Exotics Stakes but is tipped to notch her third victory in just 10 starts.
"When It's A Flirt won at her most recent long-distance test, over 725m at The Meadows, in Melbourne, on May 27, she clocked blistering sectional times,'' Kel Greenough said.
"From box one in what I'm told looks an average fifth grade race, she should be winning.''
Hardest for It's A Flirt to beat could be My Bro Pegs, who clocked a respectable 42.86 in finishing a distant second to Sunset Bourbski's fast 42.20 at his Wentworth Park 720m debut on June 17.
After that race Shaun Fleming, whose wife Annette trains, My Bro Pegs, said: "I was very pleased with that run and this dog will only get better, he should develop into a handy stayer.''
At his latest start, over 618m at Richmond last Friday, My Bro Pegs came from fifth early to down a strong field and was doing his best work at the finish.
Tonight's best bet should be another stayer, Ninja Queen, who has box five in the 720m Good Luck Ladbrokes Group 1 Finalists Stakes.
Ninja Queen is at home over the Wentworth Park 720m trip where she has contested five races for two wins, two seconds and a third.
Because she invariably drops out to the back of the field in the early stages, Ninja Queen relishes small fields so Tonight's six dog lineup is in her favour.
At her most recent outing Ninja Queen came from a long way back to beat crack Northern Rivers stayer Sandave Diva and Saphoni, one of her rivals Tonight, in a 635m event at Lismore on June 30.
Tonight's longer distance suits Ninja Queen and her trainer Bob Littlefield said she is "raring to go.''
Littlefield, who has been a master trainer of long-distance greyhounds for nearly 40 years, said: "Ninja Queen is thriving so much she has been putting on weight.
"That doesn't worry me though because I've always found if they are putting on weight but still winning it's a good sign.
"She probably put on half a kilogram after her Lismore win but I'll have her trimmed up nicely for Wenty.
"All she has had since the Lismore race has been a couple of hand-slips, designed just to keep her tight.''
Candy Carrera scored her first win at start number 21 at Wentworth Park last Wednesday night but is poised to ring up a double by taking out Tonight's Ladbrokes Back Yourself Stakes, 520m.
Candy Carrera exited box eight and overcame an unusually slow start to win in a nippy 30.24 last week but has drawn box one Tonight.
"Her owner Caroline Hughes is happy to see her in box one although I am inclined to think she might be better suited drawn wide,'' trainer Peter Massa, who bred Candy Carrera, said.
"I have only been training Candy Carrera for seven or eight starts but I notice she did finish third from box one at Richmond early in her career.
"Being in box one also will give Candy Carrera a little more time to settle down after being placed in the starting boxes so that should help her.''
