Len Cottrell and his outstanding stayer Quick Pulse took the group 1 Association Cup back to Victoria in 1983 and on Saturday night his grand-daughter Kayla Cottrell and her brilliant speedster Fernando Bluey begin a similar quest in heat 10 of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg.
Cottrell, 18, has held a trainer's licence only since August last year but notched a group 1 win with Fernando Cazz in the 600m Rookie Rebel at The Meadows last month while Fernando Bluey went within a whisker of taking out the group 1 Australian Cup on February 27.
In the Cup, Fernando Bluey, who has box four on Saturday night, made the pace until being collared in the last stride by WA champion Tommy Shelby.
Cottrell has made every effort to ensure Fernando Bluey gets his chance to qualify for the Easter Egg semi-finals, having made the long haul to Sydney to give the dog a box-to-box trial.
"The starting boxes in Sydney and Melbourne are quite different so I had to give him a look at Wenty before the heats,'' Cottrell said.
"I'm glad I did because Fernando Bluey was also new to the hoop arm and he did look a bit strange to the track, but he went good and I was happy with his time.''
Fernando Bluey is renowned for his early pace and will need to muster quickly on Saturday, as Coast Model (box two) and Vicki's Queen (box three) possess abundant dash to the first turn.
It's been years since NSW has had two more potent representatives than Flying Ricciardo and Wow, who are ideally drawn in boxes one and eight in heats seven and five respectively on Saturday.
Wow has not raced for a month but trainer Karina Britton has just given him a post-to-post hand-slip at Wentworth Park and her dog recorded a mind-boggling 23.66, running home in an equally sensational 11.42.
Victoria's champion Shima Shine was runner-up to Good Odds Harada nearly two years ago in the TAB Million Dollar Chase and returns to Wentworth Park in heat three of the Easter Egg.
Shima Shine turns four in November but part-owner David Gleeson reckons the dog is better now than when he Chased home Good Odds Harada in 2019.
"Shima Shine is getting to the line more strongly now,'' Gleeson said.
"If he gets a bit of room to move when he leaves the starting boxes he just explodes.''
Shima Shine's best Wentworth Park time of 29.48 was recorded from a box six draw but Gleeson is happy seeing him in box two on Saturday, pointing out his dog has won five of his seven races from that draw.
Last year's TAB Million Dollar Chase winner Handsome Prince (pictured) resumes after a four months injury lay-off in heat four.
"He is well boxed in two and has been trialling well, he is ready to run a big race,'' trainer Peter Lagogiane said.
"But because it is so long since he raced, whatever Handsome Prince does on Saturday he will improve upon if he makes it through to Saturday week's semi-finals.''
Richmond Derby winner Incapacitated also has box two in heat six, and trainer Justin King is pleased with that draw.
"The fields on Saturday night are sensational but if there is an easier heat I think Incapacitated might have found it,'' King said.
"In a big race like this I wanted him drawn near the fence, and there does not appear to be a lot of early speed among the dogs around him so Incapacitated might find a reasonably forward position early.''
