"It's about time" exclaimed trainer Keith Pedrana when his greyhound Blue Ticket drew an inside box in Wednesday night's NSW GBOTA Welcome Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, at Wentworth Park.
Blue Ticket had exited box seven in each of two previous Wentworth Park starts and had drawn six and eight in races at Goulburn and Richmond last month.
Last Wednesday night Blue Ticket was a distant second behind Redeem Our Cash in 30.20 but finished fast after being relegated to a distant fifth on the back straight.
"When she draws wide Blue Ticket has enough early pace to get across but she doesn't drive hard towards the fence because I figure she is frightened of falling,'' Pedrana said.
"She worked home well last Wednesday and if she steps cleanly this week she has the pace to be off and gone by the first turn.''
Blue Ticket's record from inside draws stands up to scrutiny as she has won five of her seven appearances out of boxes one, two, three and four.
Campbell Gambles tasted defeat for the first time in three starts when fifth, as a $1.70 hotpot, at Wentworth Park last Wednesday and returns to headquarters from box three in Wednesday's fourth race, a 520m fifth grade.
Before last week's first Wentworth Park appearance Campbell Gambles had won on debut over 472m at Bulli in a slick 26.45 and then led all the way over 520m at Dapto, clocking a sizzling 29.84.
Trainer Mark Gatt concedes he was disappointed by Campbell Gamble's unplaced effort at Wentworth Park last week and refused to make excuses.
"It wasn't that he lacked experience at Wenty because while he had not raced there he had plenty of trials, he had about four looks at the track,'' Gatt said.
"But when he missed the kick it seemed he did not know what to do.
"My only explanation is that Campbell Gambles had never been behind dogs before and he wanted to run off at the first turn and again on the home bend.
"I think it will be a different story if he jumps smartly but he is going to have to do that because he has drawn three, and My Mate Kate and Heart Beat, who have boxes four and five, can also get out of a box.''
Country greyhound My Boy Rockin' was runner up to Crowdza Dazzled in a heat of the Flight To The Phoenix series at Temora last Friday and comes to town on Wednesday for race eight, a 520m fifth grade.
"He has qualified for the Wenty semi-finals of the Phoenix so instead of bringing him to Sydney to trial him I am using Wednesday's race for him to gain experience on the track,'' trainer Brian Smith said.
"My Boy Rockin' has not seen Wentworth Park but he has drawn well in box two and I expect him to run a big race.
"Although he finished a good second from box six at Temora on Friday, My Boy Rockin' usually begins better from an inside draw.
"And I believe he is a better dog on two turn tracks like Wentworth Park than he is on roomy circuits like Temora.
"His form at Wagga, where he has won three from six starts, suggests that.''
Exciting prospect One Way should only need to come close to repeating his dazzling performance at Wentworth Park last Saturday night to take out Wednesday's third event, a 520m fifth grade.
One Way jumped with the leaders but quickly outpaced his rivals to lead clearly around the first turn before careering away to win by 10 lengths in 29.94, outstanding time for a fifth grader.
He tackles the same grade on Wednesday and after handling box six comfortably on Saturday, should have no trouble coping with box seven.
