Zipping Kansas and Super Estrella won the two heats by a combined total of 11 lengths but the box draw gives rookie stayer Holistic Key a great chance of causing an upset in Saturday night's 720m Wentworth Park Gold Cup final.
Zipping Kansas overcame a slow start to win his heat by nearly five lengths from Holistic Key in 42.09 while Super Estrella led from the first turn to take out her heat by just over six lengths in 42.31.
Her trainer Mark Davidson said: "I must admit I got a bit of a shock at how well Holistic Key went on Friday because she really made Zipping Kansas work.
"I'm a realist and Holistic Key is not in the same league as Zipping Kansas and Super Estrella who are both classy animals but they could get tangled up being drawn alongside each other and my bitch is perfectly boxed.
"Holistic Key won at her first 720m test at Wentworth Park on April 6 in 42.42 but seemed a bit flat a week later when she finished fourth in 42.91.
"I freshened her up after that with a couple of 600m races at The Gardens and she was a different bitch in her Cup heat.
"Holistic Key was able to roll along out in front in the early stages and then she hung on really well after Zipping Kansas headed her off.''
Jason Magri, trainer of Zipping Kansas, was hoping for box eight in Saturday's Cup final and was not impressed when his exciting stayer drew five, especially with front running stayer Super Estrella, a keen railer drawn outside him in six.
Charlie's Jar and Joseph's Coat gave Canberra trainer Ashley Dwyer his first Wentworth Park double after 46 years as a trainer when they scored easy wins on Saturday night.
Charlie's Jar led throughout in 29.93, easily his best time in seven Wenty appearances, while his litter brother Joseph's Coat sent favourite backers home on a winning note by taking out the final event in 30.18.
Dwyer secured Charlie's Jar and Joseph's Coat, along with his Million Dollar Chase semi-finalist Special Blend, from his bitch Osti Influence's litter whelped to Fernando Bale in August, 2019.
"Special Blend has always been the fastest but he is only a lick quicker than Charlie's Jar, who trialled brilliantly on the eve of his Wentworth Park win on Saturday,'' Dwyer said.
Osti Influence now has a three month old litter by Superior Panama, the boom American stud dog who is the sire of Zipping Kansas.
Spare a thought for Robert Howard, who understandably now regrets his dog Clock Off qualifying for the semi-finals of the TAB Million Dollar Chase.
Clock Off ran the race of his life to finish third, beaten just over five lengths, to big name stars Good Odds Cash and Zippy Tesla in Friday night's third and arguably strongest MDC semi-final.
But in qualifying for the semi-finals Clock Off missed contesting Saturday night's heats of the age restricted and far easier Bob Payne Sprint.
Clock Off went into Friday night's MDC after scoring eight wins and four placings on one-turn tracks like Maitland and Bulli.
After being third early and moving into second spot leaving the back straight, Clock Off was cut out of second prizemoney in the final 40m of his MDC semi by noted strong finisher Zippy Tesla.
"I was not surprised how well he handled Wenty because his speed around the bends on big tracks has always been exceptional,'' trainer Robert Howard said on Friday.
"He was having his first race at Wentworth Park and in his only trial there, a week earlier, Clock Off had recorded a flying 13.70 for his second split.
"In hindsight I wish Clock Off had not been in the MDC because it caused him to miss the Bob Payne series, which would have presented a far easier opportunity for him.''
