Eva One was an unplaced $2.10 favourite at Richmond at her most recent start but trainer Peter Rodgers reckons punters should discard that fifth placing when assessing form for tonight's Wentworth Park meeting.
Rodgers' bitch has box one in the The Straight Up Gardens Classic, a 520m fifth grade, and she is drawn to win.
"Eva One is better suited over 520m, where she has a run up to the first turn, rather than over 400m at Richmond where they start on a bend,'' Rodgers said.
"She did win over 400m at Richmond on November 22 but when she was favourite from box two there five days later, she dwelt at the start and when the dogs on the outside chopped down to the rails, Eva One was put out of business.
"I have since trialled here 535m at Richmond and she clocked a very quick 30.58, running home in 14.86, which is outstanding time.
"I believe Eva One could develop into a good stayer but in the meantime she is suited over 520m at Wentworth Park and is well positioned in box one.''
It seems dual Million Dollar Chase winning trainer Peter Lagogiane could win with a Golden Retriever these days and his dog Sanctify looks tonight's best bet.
Sanctify, who has box two in the 520m Ladbrokes Money Back Odds Stakes, a fourth and fifth grade, has not raced since finishing seventh in a Wentworth Park heat of the TAB Million Dollar Chase on October 3.
The dog went into that race following a blistering 30.41 Richmond 535m win on September 11 but after a moderate getaway from box four, Sanctify was moving forward when he was skittled and almost fell at the first turn.
Sanctify is superbly drawn tonight as Candy Carrera, box one, and Trouble At Mill, in three, lack early pace so should allow Lagogiane's greyhound to gain a clear passage from the start to the first bend.
Prim And Proper, who has toppled top notch fields over middle distances at her past three starts, makes her Wentworth Park 720m debut in tonight's Merry Xmas GBOTA Track Managers Stakes.
The David Smith-trained greyhound won in a slick 36.43 over 630m at Nowra on November 28, in a near record 34.21 over 600m at Dapto on December 3, and in a fast 35.66 over 618m at Richmond last Friday.
Asked whether he was confident Prim And Proper would see out the 720m, Smith said: "I think she will stay so long as she does not have to work hard to get to an early lead.
"Of course one can never be certain because sometimes greyhounds 'hit a brick wall' near the home turn over 720m at Wentworth Park.''
Smith also has strong claims at Wentworth Park tonight with Super Estrella, who has box eight in the GBOTA Welcome Maiden, and with Five Second Rule and Me Me Mia, who are in boxes four and six, in the Merry Xmas GBOTA Track Staff Stakes.
"Super Estrella surprised me when she used a bit of the track before finishing third to Road Spike at her first race start at Wentworth Park last Wednesday,'' Smith said.
"She has always railed well in solo trials but by the way she went last week box eight might suit her this week.
"If Me Me Mia had drawn an inside box I would have been quietly confident of her winning because she was running third when she was flattened at the first turn at her first Wentworth Park 520m start last Wednesday.
"She has a good turn of pace and is capable of pinching a 520m at Wenty if she can go to the front quickly.''
Me Me Mia's litter brother Five Second Rule has been runner-up in each of two Wentworth Park 520m outings and clashes again with Jackpot Josie, who ran him down to win narrowly in a similar race last Wednesday.
