Half Past Tipsy displayed her customary early zip but with improved strength at the finish to win her heat and trainer Allan Woods believes she is in even better shape for Saturday night's 520m Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Final at Wentworth Park.
In the April 15 heats Half Past Tipsy led throughout in 29.82, easily her personal best Wenty time, while Oro Rojo and Esme Watson qualified for Saturday night by winning in 29.77 and 29.78 respectively.
But Half Past Tipsy's first split of 5.37 was .02sec quicker than Oro Rojo's figures and a hefty .20sec inside Esme Watson's initial section.
When champion She's A Pearl scored her 22nd Wentworth Park win on Wednesday her first split was 5.39, .02sec outside Half Past Tipsy's April 15 heat time.
"That's really encouraging,'' Half Past Tipsy's trainer Allan Woods said.
"In each of Half Past Tipsy's three Wentworth Park starts she has become stronger and I think she can go even better this week.
"I've never seen her look so happy and fit as she has been at home since her heat win.''
Woods is also upbeat about the prospects of Half Past Tipsy's litter brother Four Barrys, who has box two in race three, a 520m fifth grade.
Four Barrys made the pace when fourth to Got The Feature in a far tougher Wentworth Park race on March 29 before roaring home to win over 400m at LADBROKES GARDENS in a flying 22.50 on April 14.
Woods said: "Four Barrys should keep getting stronger, just like his sister has done.
"Saturday's small field will suit him and providing they leave him alone in the run to the first turn I expect him to go close to leading all the way.
"He gets his unusual name because in my family there are four generations, including my father, with Barry as their Christian name.''
Mr Determine has had a single win and two placings in four provincial appearances since resuming from spell but trainer Michelle Sultana has declared the Wentworth Park specialist "as good as ever" for Saturday night's sixth event, a 520m fourth and fifth grade.
Mr Determine has won three from four Wentworth Park outings and his best time of 29.91 was posted from box four, his draw on Saturday night, in February last year.
The Ruth Matic-trained speedster stumbled at the start and showed tremendous pace to reach the lead on the back straight before winning his April 15 in a sizzling 29.64.
Despite the mishap at the start Len Me Dad's time was fastest of the eight finalists and was .03sec quicker than the next best figures, posted by the improving I'm Loving It.
Len Me Dad
But I'm Loving It had box three in his heat and is awkwardly positioned in box five in the final.
