Queensland Derby finalist Cash View's credentials for Friday week's group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby heats are set to receive a boost with the Northern Rivers-trained dog drawn to score his first Wentworth Park win tonight.
Cash View, who won last year's Dave Brett Memorial at Albion Park, made his Wentworth Park debut last Wednesday and came from midfield to finish second behind Me Me Mia.
That greyhound proved the form by winning again at Wentworth Park 72 hours later and Cash View, who has box seven in tonight's Ladbrokes Back Yourself Stakes, should benefit from last week's experience.
Before last week's race trainer Robert Cooke revealed Cash View had trialled at Wentworth Park as an unraced youngster but a lure problem that night gave him no guide as to how the dog would handle the track.
So Cash View was having his first true "look'' at Wentworth Park last Wednesday and it's worth noting the dog has drawn box seven just once previously, winning a maiden race at Albion Park on November 18 by 10 lengths.
Cash View's toughest rival tonight should be the John Finn-trained Zipping Pearson, who has had a win and three placings from five Wentworth Park appearances.
Trainer John Finn's wife Melinda said: "Being in race two will help Zipping Pearson because she plays up in the kennels.
"So an early race is always an advantage for her and box three looks okay too.''
Finn also has Zipping Freeman in box two in the GBOTA Welcome Maiden, which looks a match between that greyhound and Fabian's Gold, who has drawn five.
"Even though Zipping Freeman showed she can handle an outside box by being placed at her past four starts from boxes six, seven and eight, we are happy seeing her in box two this week,'' Melinda Finn said.
Fabian's Gold, who was a heavily backed favourite when fifth, from box five at his race debut last Wednesday at Wentworth Park, will wear the yellow vest again tonight.
The dog was trained by Caroline Hughes for last Wednesday's race but was switched later in the week to Michael Galea's kennels.
"It is disappointing to see Fabian's Gold in box five again because he will need to jump in front of the dog in box four, who might want to get wide,'' Galea said.
"But Fabian's Gold has plenty of ability, it is just that he is still learning, he is very green.
"He is capable of running home in 11.84 over the 520m at Wenty and with experience I believe he is capable of eventually breaking the 30sec mark.
"In his favour is that he looks to be capable of getting out of a box smartly.''
Last week Fabian's Gold began smartly but was trapped outside a wide runner at the first turn and lost all chance.
Zipping Niseko will clinch a start in Friday week's heats of the group 1 Ladbrokes National Futurity if she performs as well as trainer Luke Adams expects in tonight's Download The Service NSW App Stakes.
Zipping Niseko led throughout from box eight to win in a fast 29.80 at Wentworth Park last Wednesday but moves to box three tonight.
"Until recently I was convinced Zipping Niseko preferred an outside box because she did not like getting crowded but she won in fast time at Dapto on December 17 from box two,'' Adams said.
"I think she is now handling inside draws better than she was a few weeks back and I liked the way she got home last week, she hit the line really hard.''
Good value tonight could be Rebel Road, despite his box four draw in the Sponsor A Race At Wenty Stakes.
Rebel Road was a distant second at his only Wentworth Park outing on Boxing Night but trainer Paul Roach disclosed that was the greyhound's first experience of the Wenty circuit.
"He is a litter brother to my dog Road Spike, who won first up at Wentworth Park last month, but while Road Spike is stronger at the end of 520m, Rebel Road has more early pace,'' Roach said.
