Bathurst Soldiers Saddle winner Red Hot Mouse is likely to miss the heats of the group 1 Ladbrokes National Futurity on January 15 but Chrissie Banner is almost certain to be back in time for the series.
Red Hot Mouse won first-up at Wentworth Park in 30.06 on November 8 but after winning her heat and final of the Soldiers Saddle was skittled when disputing the lead at the first at Wenty on December 26.
"There were excuses for that loss but I was a little disappointed with her fifth at her next Wentworth Park start on January 2 and while I will make a decision on the Futurity at the weekend at this stage Red Hot Mouse is unlikely to be nominated,'' trainer Rod Metselaar said.
Chrissie Banner has not raced since finding trouble when fifth to Wow at Wentworth Park on December 19 but trainer Barry Gibbons is confident he will have her right for Friday week's Futurity heats.
Chrissie Banner, who has won five of 13 Wentworth Park races where she boasts a slick personal best time of 29.79, is the perfect age for the Futurity.
"She had a little setback after her last run but I'm pretty sure she will be right for the Futurity heats,'' Gibbons said.
Chrissie Banner was runner-up to Rapallo in the Young Star Classic final at Wentworth Park in October and will be among the most experienced Futurity contestants.
Romantic Storm remains on target for a crack at Friday week's National Derby heats despite missing a place at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night.
Romantic Storm, who had led throughout from box three in a slick 29.87 at Wentworth Park on December 30, was never out of trouble from box eight before running home strongly to finish fourth to Kurios Motion on Wednesday.
The George Borg-trained dog, who has had four wins and five seconds from 14 Wentworth Park appearances, missed the jump from box eight and was badly hampered crossing to the rails.
"He is desperate for an inside box,'' Borg said later.
"Romantic Storm deserves his chance in the Derby but he needs to draw near the rails in his heat if he is to be any hope of making the January 23 final.''
John Finn trained a National Derby winner over 35 years ago but his classic hopes this year will almost certainly rest with Zipping Pearson in the National Futurity.
RAPID SUPREME won the 1985 Derby for Finn while Zipping Pearson probably earned a tilt at this year's Futurity with her slick all the way win in 29.90 at WP on Wednesday.
"I'm not sure Zipping Pearson is good enough for a group 1 like the Futurity but I will leave that to her owner Marty Hallinan,'' Finn's wife Melinda said.
"Zipping Pearson's bad habit of playing up in the kennels is always going to be a problem and being in an early race, the second event on Wednesday, was a big help to her.''
Crack Victorian trainers Jeff Britton and his partner Angela Langton, who won the 2019 National Futurity with Circle Of Dreams, have sent six talented youngsters to Sydney to contest Friday week's Derby and Futurity heats.
Sydney trainers Alan and Christine Proctor looked after Circle Of Dreams when she won the Futurity and they have been entrusted with Do It, Weblec Jet, Jepara and Westar Aileen.
Chris Carl has raced dogs with the Britton/Langton kennels in Melbourne and is caring for Silver Chief Classic runner-up Tyler Durden and Weblec Pearl for their Sydney campaigns.
