Phase will earn a crack at the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic if he performs as well as expected when he makes his Wentworth Park debut in Saturday night's NSW GBOTA Welcome Back Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Phase has won 10 of his 20 races and while he has the pace to overcome his box four draw he has had just three starts beyond 472m for a win, over 515m at Gosford.
Trainer Michael Eberand said: "Phase's chances hinge on how he jumps because over 520m he can't afford to miss the kick.
"He has a terrific burst of speed and if he jumps cleanly I am confident he will get the 520m.''
Heats of the 520m Vic Peters will be held at Wentworth Park on October 9, with the final a week later.
Jodie Lord trained five winners on Wednesday night's nine race Wentworth Park card and she is confident of adding to her remarkable recent record with Bandit Ned (pictured) on Saturday night.
Bandit Ned, whose 15 races have resulted in 12 wins and three placings, has box five in the Live And Free Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
"He has won his past four starts at Nowra and Goulburn and has never been fitter or in better form,'' Lord said.
David Smith, another trainer enjoying great success, has strongly fancied kennelmates in the 720m Get Vaxxed Free-For-All and the 520m Cash Connect ATM Plus Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
In Saturday's only long distance event Smith will rug up Prim And Proper in box one and Ice Cream Story in seven.
Prim And Proper could be favourite from her ideal draw but Smith believes her kennelmate is capable of upsetting her.
"Prim And Proper broke 42sec when she won over 720m at Wentworth Park on May 1 but while her second placings at Dapto and Bulli at her past two starts were good efforts, I don't think she is quite as good as she was last preparation,'' Smith said.
"Ice Cream Story can find trouble in her races but is going extremely well and although she has not raced beyond 618m I am confident she will see out a solid 720m on Saturday.
"I have Tarawi Ted in box one and Calamity Ethics in two in the 520m fifth grade but I would have preferred them positioned the other way around.
"Calamity Ethics is capable of clocking fast splits and tends to go left at the start.
"But providing Tarawi Ted gets a clear sit behind her I think he will run her down.''
Good Odds Harada returns in Saturday's Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Masters over 520m but despite having box one, will need to do everything right to beat Shanjo Prince (box six) and Lollipop Liz (seven).
Lollipop Liz has had two wins and two seconds from her past five provincial outings and has won 10 of her 24 races from the three outside boxes.
But trainer Sarah O'Sullivan said: "Most of those wide draw wins were over 400m and I would have liked her drawn inside against this class.
"If she can get out of the boxes quickly she has a chance but it could be difficult to get across in the run to the first turn.''
