Sunburnt Highway raced below his impeccable best when fifth at his most recent Wentworth Park outing but trainer Judith Richardson believes he can bounce back and score win number 30 at headquarters on Saturday night.
Sunburnt Highway, or 'Billy' to his connections, has had 29 wins and 24 placings from 89 Wentworth Park appearances and will exit box eight in race nine, a 520m Masters Stakes.
"At his last start at Wentworth Park on June 19 I was disappointed when he failed to take off down the back straight because even if he misses the jump he usually puts himself in the race at some stage,'' Richardson said.
"He was a bit off colour the next morning, he wasn't himself, and he was a bit seedy for the next few days.
"I think he may have picked up some sort of a bug, a kind of mild virus, but he is back to his cheeky best again now, bouncing around and raring to go.''
On The Rocks has not raced since winning over 520m at Nowra in near record time of 29.50 on June 14 but has trialled brilliantly in preparation for her return in Saturday night's fourth race, a 520m fourth and fifth grade.
"I have my own slipping track and On The Rocks has been kept in trim with a few hand-slips at home,'' trainer Donna Campbell said.
"Then on Tuesday I trialled her over 280m at Wentworth Park and she clocked a smart 15.97 on a sloppy track.''
Laurie's Flyer, a short course specialist, set the Wentworth Park 280m record of 15.72 last December so On The Rocks' figures are outstanding.
She won at her only start from box six and while she faces good early pace greyhounds like Collecting Model (box three) and Good Odds Rebel (four) on Saturday, she has a vacant box on her left so should be able to find the lead.
Perth trainer Shayne Williams will head for home after his greyhounds Rippin' Memphis and Rippin' Purton compete at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Williams brought them to NSW for the Group 1 Peter Mosman Opal and Group 1 Vic Peters Classic but those races were postponed when Sydney was plunged into lockdown.
"This trip has been my worst nightmare multiplied by 10,'' Williams said.
"I was set to go home but then decided I might as well nominate my dogs for Saturday's Wenty meeting.
"That way they will have experienced the track under race conditions in case I want to bring them back for either of those postponed age classics or for the Million Dollar Chase.
"I gave them each a box-to-box trial at Wenty and they each went well while Rippin' Memphis, who is the quicker of the pair, broke 25sec in a 440m trial on a slow track at Goulburn.
"Rippin' Memphis has box five in race 10 but has drawn against Zipping Kyrgios, while Rippin' Purton has box two in the easier fifth race, a 520m fifth grade.
"I hope I get some prizemoney because when I get home I am going to have to self isolate for a fortnight.''
Saturday's safest bet should be Wicked Flash, ideally drawn in box one in race seven, a 520m fifth grade.
Wicked Flash has recorded easily the quickest Wentworth Park 520m time and is positioned to go straight to the front.
