Victorian -trained bitches have won four of the past six group 1 National Futurity finals at Wentworth Park and Baby Jaycee, from Heathcote, 110km north of Melbourne, is poised to be a worthy contender for the 2023 series.
Heats of the Futurity will be held on January 13 with the $75,000 to the winner 520m final on January 21.
Golden Easter Egg winner Striker Light took the 2017 winner's cheque home to Victoria with a race record 29.74 performance, while Blue Sky Riot scored for Anthony Azzopardi 12 months later.
The Jeff Britton-trained Circle Of Dreams clocked a slick 29.86 to complete a Victorian hat-trick in 2019 while Peter Presutto's Idolize defeated her kennelmate Chic in 29.80 on January 22 this year.
The win took Coast Model's earnings to over $251,000 while Yuko Girl, a winner of nine Wenty races, finished behind Baby Jaycee.
The Victorian visitor is trained by Bob Douglas, who knows what it takes to win a big race at WP, having taken out the 2002 Golden Easter Egg with Carlisle Jack.
After Wednesday's race, Douglas, a hobby trainer who has only two greyhounds in work, said: "Baby Jaycee had not seen Wenty before Tonight so I was pleased with her run.
"Baby Jaycee is a tenacious chaser with a big motor and I expected her to go well first up at WP because she clocked 29.60 at her first look at Sandown.
"Tonight's race was Baby Jaycee's trial for the Futurity heats so we'll be back next month.
"No wonder I got lost on the way here because I had not been to Wenty Park since 2004 when I delivered the 2005 group 1 Association Cup winner Classy Customer to Sydney.''
Black Wizard, purchased from Cowra owner-trainer Paul Braddon less than a month ago, gave popular owner Mick Vella and under-rated trainer Owen Langley a quick return when he led throughout to win at his Wentworth Park debut on Wednesday.
Black Wizard, bought for $15,000, collected $4000 at his first appearance for his new connections when he scampered over the 520m in a nippy 30.02.
"Mick, who handles my dogs these days as well as catching and handling for many other trainers, was keen to buy a performed dog ready to win at Wentworth Park,'' Langley said.
"We decided Black Wizard might fill the bill because I was impressed by the fact that in a dozen country races he had registered five wins and six placings, so had only been unplaced once.
"I can't take any credit for Wednesday's win because the dog came to me three weeks before the race in superb condition.
"Black Wizard had a box-to-box trial and a post-to-post hand-slip at Wenty before Wednesday's race, but in reality all I did was feed him and nominated him.
"I don't expect him to be a world-beater but he is going to be really handy fourth and fifth grader and I'm confident he can get under 30sec at Wenty in his next race or two.''
