There aren't many more consistent sprinters than Aston Barak and the Jason Fletcher-trained flyer looks poised to notch his 10th win from his past dozen starts when he contests Saturday night's Ladbrokes Same Race Multi Stakes at Bulli.
Aston Barak took his tally to eight wins from 10 races when he won in a slick 22.47 over 400m at Bulli on August 25 and clocked identical figures in winning again over the same course three nights later.
On Saturday Aston Barak will relish stepping up to a more favorable 472m trip and will exit box one in the third and fourth grade event.
With Light And Lily, who uses a bit of the track in box two, and with box three vacant, Aston Barak can even afford to dwell at box rise and still get a clear run to lead at the first turn.
Ritza Tommy, another greyhound in a rare patch of form, seems set to notch his fourth win in 11 days after drawing box two and appearing well graded in the Mr Bugs Pest Control Stakes, a 400m fifth grade.
Ritza Tommy clocked a sizzling 22.14 winning over this course from box three on September 1, stepped up to 520m and broke 30sec winning at Dapto 72 hours later, and won again at Bulli on Wednesday.
In that win Ritza Tommy exited box two and came from second approaching the home turn to score in another quick time of 22.21.
"He pulled up perfectly after Wednesday's race and there's no reason Ritza Tommy won't win again because he is well boxed and is still in a fifth grade,'' trainer Andrew Bell said.
Flip The Script has not raced since cracking a hock more than four months ago but is trialling well enough to give Saturday night's Southern Engine Reconditioning Stakes, a 472m fifth grade, a decent shake.
Flip The Script won his sole Bulli 472m outing on April 6 in a fast 26.29 from box eight, and will wear the pink rug again on Saturday.
"He is well boxed because Flip The Script likes to work around his opponents,'' trainer Robert Stojanov said.
"He is out where he wants to be and has been trialling well at Potts Park so is ready to go.
"I have given him four starts for two wins and two placings so can't ask for much more than that.
"Flip The Scrip is not a good beginner so it's doubtful he will be near the early leaders but his run home times are good and if he is up near them turning for home he will be hard to hold off.''
Victorian trainer Steven Spoljaric has become stranded in NSW due to Covid and is hoping to continue picking up expenses with Zelko Spolly in Saturday night's Ladbroke It Stakes, a 590m mixed stakes.
"I came up to Newcastle to visit my mother but when the Victorian border was shut down I was stuck in NSW,'' Spoljaric said.
"In the meantime I have been racing my dogs here and Zelko Spolly has taken to the Maitland track, scoring a win over 450m and a second over 565m at his past two starts there.
"He has not raced or trialled at Bulli but he likes that type of course so it should be to his liking.
"Zelko Spolly loves the rails so box one will suit him 100 per cent.
"He is a lot better than his strike rate of one win and four placings from 12 starts suggests because when he was a maiden I could not get races long enough for him.
"He is a really nice dog and I expect him to become a handy stayer later on.
"I also have Keira Spolly in box two in the 472m Ladbrokes Easy Form Stakes and while she missed the jump when second at Maitland at her latest start last Monday, she is normally a lid pinger.
"When she finished second at Maitland she was having her first 450m run in six weeks so the run should have improved her and she is well drawn near the fence.
"Keira Spolly is capable of jumping and leading all the way, just like she did in a 440m race at Sale in June.''
