WHEN Super Estrella outsped and outstayed boom long distance performer Zipping Kansas to win the NSW Distance Championship in near record time most racegoers felt David Smith's bitch had an iron grip on the National final.
But while Super Estrella will be a warm favourite in Saturday night's Ladbrokes National Distance Championship, her interstate rivals Tsar Bell and Moraine Suzie have strong support following impressive trials at Wentworth Park.
And there are huge wraps on the NEW ZEALAND contender Know Keeper, with good judges from the Shaky Isles insisting he is the best stayer to come out of the country.
That's high praise as Know Peace came from NZ and trounced our best stayers, including crack Victorian Irma Bale, in the 2012 Chairman's Cup final at Wentworth Park.
On Tuesday night Tsar Bell, trained in WA by Adam Smithson, "flew" in a box-to-box hit-out over around 600m at Wentworth Park.
"I sent him across to John and and Minnie Finn and after Minnie trialled Tsar Bell at Wenty for us and she said he went super,'' Smithson said.
"From box one Tsar Bell will want to use a bit of the track if he gets crowded but with a clean start and there is no pressure from the outside he will rail okay.
"Tsar Bell doesn't have a lot of early pace but if he gets his own way in the run to the first turn I expect him to quickly settle down among the first three dogs.''
Know Keeper boasts the remarkable strike rate of 34 wins from 65 starts including 10 victories from his past dozen appearances over distances ranging from 645m to 779m.
Bandit Ned , who has won 11 of 21 Wentworth Park races, now comes into the race as an outstanding chance, especially as he is set to exit an outside box, his favoured position.
"Although he was beaten by Simply Limelight in the NSW Championship I wasn't disappointed with his run,'' trainer Andy Lord said.
"The older Bandit Ned gets the smarter he gets and from a suitable wide box I expect him to run a great race on Saturday as he steps up a notch in big races, he has done that all his life.''
Lord knows how to win a National Sprint Championship, having taken out the 2004 final at Perth's Cannington with In For Life.
Simply Limelight will start favourite after posting a personal best 29.62 winning at Wentworth Park last Saturday night while Victoria's Dusty Bourbski has brilliantly at headquarters last week, clocking 29.70.
Part-owner Ross Davidson said: "He didn't get the start right in his trial and only clocked 5.53 for the first split but he got home in 11.72.
"Dusty Bourbski is likely to take a step to the right when he leaves the boxes but while he tends to drift wide on the straights he cuts back to the rails on the corners.''
Punter's Bandit defeated sensational youngster Zipping Orlando's litter sister and kennelmate Zipping Sabrina in the heats, but the John Finn-trained bitch could reverse the placings in Saturday night's Thanks For Shouting Ladbrokes Maiden Final, 520m.
In the August 17 heats, the Andy Lord-trained Punter's Bandit had box two and led to the first turn but after being headed soon after by Zipping Sabrina, who had come from box four, regained the lead approaching the home bend.
But on Saturday night Zipping Sabrina has box one with Punter's Bandit in box eight.
John Finn's wife Minnie said: "Although Zipping Sabrina got wide in her heat we think she is well placed in box one.
"We were surprised to see her get off the track in her heat but that was the first time she had seen Wenty for a long while so she should rail better this week.''
Saturday's meeting will conclude with an enthralling top grade 520m Masters race, featuring Jabeni in box two and Jax Bale in seven.
Good railer Jabeni was a luckless third from box five to Good Odds Cash and Ibrox Wildfire in a WP Free-For-All on August 17 while Jax Bale, who has won five of his past 11 starts at Angle Park, Sandown and The Meadows, is now with NSW trainer Jason Mackay and is particularly suited drawn wide.
