Stanley Keeping won in the best time of the night at only Wentworth Park start but his litter brother and kennelmate Memphis Keeping, who clashes with him in tonight's Dubbo To WP Final, is "three or four lengths faster.''
That's the opinion of Shayne Stiff, whose partner Charmaine Roberts trains the duo along with another sibling, Montanna Keeping, who is also in tonight's race.
Memphis Keeping won his heat over 516m at Dubbo last Thursday in near record time of 29.55 while Montanna Keeping clocked 29.98 in her heat, defeating Stanley Keeping by just under a length.
Montanna Keeping led most of the way while Stanley Keeping, who recorded a sizzling 29.87 in his first up Wentworth Park win on November 4, stumbled at the start before finishing fast.
"Memphis Keeping would beat Stanley Keeping by three or four lengths if Charmaine trialled them together,'' Stiff said.
"He has the making of a real nice dog.
"We gave him a box-to-box trial at Wenty a few weeks back and Memphis Keeping went good.
"Our only concern is that Memphis Keeping has drawn five and Stanley Keeping is in six.
"Stanley Keeping crashes left when the boxes open so we have our fingers crossed that he doesn't knock his brother down when they jump.
"We also have a high opinion of Montanna Keeping because while she is not as talented as her two brothers, she has a good turn of early pace which will win her plenty of races.''
Trainer Michael Eberand is contemplating a start in next month's Group 1 Dapto Megastar with Ebby Jet Power, who is chasing his ninth Wentworth Park win in 17 appearances in tonight's Free-For-All.
Ebby Jet Power won a similar race at Wentworth Park last Wednesday, running down former Queensland speedster Hammer Down before easily holding off a late challenge by Cawborne Marty to win in 29.99.
"Barking Bad, who won a Gosford Cup for me, finished third to Aqua Cheetah in the 2017 Dapto Megastar and it's a race I've always wanted to win,'' Eberand said.
Ebby Jet Power has box four tonight but the draw could be better than it seems as box five is empty while Charlie Casey, who has drawn six, lacks early speed.
Brilliant short courser Hudson Bolt makes his keenly anticipated Wentworth Park debut for trainer Peter Tobin in tonight's 280m Ladbrokes Cash In Stakes.
Hudson Bolt has had 10 wins, six seconds and two thirds from 26 provincial races but has not trialled at Wentworth Park.
"I've been hanging out to get a draw with him in a 280m race at Wenty,'' trainer Tobin said.
"He has box seven but I prefer him in an odd numbered box because dogs drawn there go in first and Hudson Bolt seems to like having time to settle down before he jumps.
"Hudson Bolt does love The Gardens but his last run there, when he won last Saturday, was super.
"He was up against a red hot field including the 272m track record holder Greek Bombshell, and despite having box four he came out fast and pushed between his rivals to go to the front.
"I'm not sure if Hudson Bolt will 'get' 520m but I am hoping and in his past two wins, over 388m at Gosford and 400m at The Gardens, his run home times have been an improvement on what he had previously clocked.
"So he is getting stronger without having lost any of his early dash.''
