Go Bears was beaten four lengths into sixth position in a Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg heat last Saturday but goes from tackling all-comers to youngsters his own age in Wednesday night's third heat of the New Sensation at Wentworth Park.
Go Bears has clearly the best Wentworth Park record of the eight starters and trainer Ron Ulrick summed things up when he said: "He goes from being one of the babies of the field to being the old fella.
"I have given him an easy time since Saturday but freshened him up on Monday with a nice swim in a saltwater lagoon not far from where I live.
"That's his normal routine as he thrives on swimming.''
Go Bears has box one and when he led throughout from the rails trap at Wentworth Park on February 25 he clocked a slick 29.71, much quicker than the times any of his rivals on Wednesday has posted.
Those eye-catchings run prompted some keen judges to expect Palawa King to contest last Saturday night's Golden Easter Egg heats but instead trainer Jack Smith has saved the dog for Wednesday's New Sensation qualifiers.
Palawa King has box six in heat six, and Smith, who won the New Sensation final in 2021 with Jungle Deuce, said: "I'm a great believer if they are eligible for age restricted races, in putting them in those races.
"Palawa King has won nine races including three at Wenty but his past two placed runs there have been the best of his career.
Trainer Allen Williams makes no secret of having a massive opinion of Garside To Excel, who makes his Wentworth Park debut in heat five of the New Sensation.
Garside To Excel has box three and at his most recent start on a circle track staged a dazzling last-to-first performance to win over 320m at Richmond in 18.24, just outside best time of the meeting.
Although Garside To Excel is stepping up in distance Williams said: "He will see out the 520m, I have no doubt about him getting the distance.
"He had a hand-slip at Wentworth Park some time ago so knows his way around the track and while he is still learning, Garside To Excel has amazing pace and is as ready as he is ever going to be.''
Toughest opponent could be the David Smith-trained Tarawi Rocky, who has had two wins and five placings from nine Wentworth Park appearances and has drawn box eight.
"He has won from the eight and will handle the box okay, although I'm not sure how he will go from the extreme outside at Wenty,'' Smith said.
"I also have Got The Feature going from box eight in heat four of the New Sensation and he is ideally drawn.
"Box eight is his go but while he is a quick dog I think 30 seconds flat will probably stop him at Wenty.''
An interesting Wentworth Park newcomer opposing Got The Feature is the Dennis Barnes-trained Nangar Bubbles, who has box four.
Nangar Bubbles had won two from four country starts before tackling a much tougher heat of the Launching Pad over 515m at Sandown on March 23.
"She failed in that race but was never out of trouble from box five,'' Barnes said.
"Nangar Bubbles had a trial at Wentworth Park as a puppy and clocked 30.30 but she trialled real well at Sandown before the Launching Pad heat, clocking 29.40 for the 515m.''
