Black Abbott has raced only twice for two wins over the Goulburn 440m sprint course but trainer Andy Lord is confident the dog can maintain his unblemished record by scoring first-up over 520m at Wentworth Park on Tonight.
"He should be winning,'' was Lord's succinct prediction as he prepares Black Abbott for his keenly anticipated Wentworth Park debut in the Where Else But Wenty? Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Black Abbott will exit box two, the draw he had when he bolted in at his first start on September 30 when he sped over the Goulburn 440m journey in 24.60, outstanding time for an unraced youngster.
Lord and his wife JODIE have trained 148 winners this year with Andy also having bright prospects tongiht with Winlock All Over, who has box eight in the @wentworthparkgreyhounds Stakes, a 520m third and fourth grade, and Sir Banjo, who has the same draw in the 520m Ladbrokes Easy Form fifth grade.
"Winlock All Over is perfectly drawn while Sir Banjo is improving all the time,'' Andy Lord said.
"I've said all along Sir Banjo is still getting the hang of Wentworth Park so I wasn't surprised he won as an $8 chance there last Saturday.
"He had box two in that race but can handle an outside alley, my only concern on Wednesday being that Especially Rare, who has drawn alongside him in box seven, can show early pace and uses a bit of the track.''
Best Bet Tonight should be Ritza Piper, who boasts an unbeaten record over the 720m course of the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Mixed Stakes.
Ritza Piper led throughout for a 25 length winning romp at her 720m debut on September 21, clocking a sizzling 41.89.
She then downed the Lord kennel's consistent and more experienced stayer Silver Luck in a smart 42.05 on September 28.
While Ritza Piper has won each of her two Wentworth Park long-distance assignments, none of her six opponents on Wednesday has been successful over the 720m trip.
Tonight's opening event, the NSW GBOTA Welcome Maiden over 520m promises to be a spirited betting affair.
Each of the seven runners is expected to have support with Velocity Dallas and Flying Noodles, placed behind Cooper's Hawk in last Wednesday's corresponding race, tipped to be hardest to beat.
Last week Velocity Dallas chased Cooper's Hawk all the way while Flying Noodles was badly checked at box rise and came from last at the first turn to finish a neck away in third position.
Although Velocity Dallas moves from box one to box eight, she raced in the centre of the track last Wednesday so should not be troubled by her wide alley.
Trainer Glen Goodwin said: "I've always thought Velocity Dallas and her sister Velocity Stella want inside boxes but when Stella came up with box eight at Dapto last Thursday I gave her no hope yet she jumped out and led all the way.
"Velocity Stella has box two in race nine at Wentworth Park and I give her a good chance.
"Her run home time for the 520m at Dapto last week was 12.55 and they don't go much better than that.''
Toughest rival for Velocity Stella is likely to be Zipping Abigail, who has had five races at Wentworth Park for four seconds and a third.
Zipping Abigail lacks early pace but possesses a powerful finishing burst and will relish having only five opponents.
