Winlock Piper won five races at Wentworth Park for his previous owner-trainer Andy Lord but on Saturday night he is poised to give his new owner-trainer Michelle Johnson her very first city winner.
Winlock Piper has box one in heat one of the Ladbrokes Road To The Egg series and should only need to come out cleanly to lead all the way.
The dog was checked at the first turn when seventh at Wentworth Park in his final run for Andy Lord on January 28 and since joining Johnson's kennels in the upper Hunter has had two wins and two thirds from four provincial outings.
"After he won twice over 400m at The Gardens in February I was looking for a 515m race there for him before bringing him back to Wenty,'' Johnson said.
"But because there were no 515m races available I had to put him over 450m at Maitland on March 2 and he ran home strongly to finish third.''
Winlock Piper's Maitland run was outstanding as he was hampered early and at the finish was taking ground off a pair of brilliant front-runners, Clock Off and She's Savage.
While Michelle Johnson has had a trainer's licence for just two years she has a long family background in the sport.
"My grandmother, uncle and father were all greyhound trainers,'' Johnson said.
"I moved to Aberdeen nine months ago so I could have better facilities to train greyhounds and now I have six in work.
"I have taken a bit of weight off Winlock Piper and am very happy with how he has been going.''
Another greyhound expected to win first-up at Wentworth Park for new connections is Fast Reason, who has box four in heat three of the Road To The Egg series.
Fast Reason was owned and trained by Jorja-Louise Howard when he posted a win and four seconds in six Wentworth Park appearances last year before being purchased by owner George Kairouz.
The dog made his debut for new trainer Peter Lagogiane in a 400m race at Bulli on February 28 and won by five lengths in a flying 22.14sec, fastest time of the meeting.
Lagogiane said: "Since that Bulli race I have given Fast Reason a couple of hand-slips at Wentworth Park and he has gone terrific.
"Off the times he clocked in those hit-outs I expect Fast Reason to be winning on Saturday.''
Fast Reason's toughest rival looks to be the consistent Akii Princess, who has drawn box one for the fourth time in five Wentworth Park outings.
Akii Princess, trained by George Borg for first time owner Ahmad Istanbouli, a chef, has won two of her three starts wearing the red rug and clocked an extra slick 29.88 in her February 22 Wentworth Park win.
Federal Fernando's six Victorian wins have resulted in the dog being harshly graded in three Wentworth Park starts but despite being the sole runner in Saturday's Spud King's Last Dash Stakes without a Wenty win he has a good chance.
Federal Fernando's seven rivals have amassed 35 Wentworth Park victories but the Carole Eaton-trained former Victorian has the draw to lead for a long way.
He made the pace to the home turn when third to Energizer Miss and Garden Party at WP last Saturday night and clocked his personal best time from three Wentworth Park outings of 30.02.
"He is in a tough race again so I'll be happy if Flighty Fernando runs a place,'' trainer Carole Eaton said.
"He gets down lovely in the starting box and always seems ready to bounce out when the lure whizzes past so he has a great chance of being the pacemaker.
"But he is inclined to move out away from the rails.''
That trait could give Massimo To Excel, a box one specialist who will wear the red rug in Federal Fernando's race, the perfect run to the first turn.
Massimo To Excel bungled the start from box six but flashed home to finish second, beaten a half length, by Go Bears in a $10,000 to the winner final at Wentworth Park last week.
