RECORD breaking figures in a hit-out on the new Thirlmere trial track have trainer Garry Coles convinced Lidsdale Road retains some of his early dash on the eve of Wednesday's Wentworth Park meeting.
Lidsdale Road has box seven in the fourth and fifth grade Ladies Night June 17 Stakes, just four days after recording an electrically-timed record 16.14 in a 280m hit-out on the Thirlmere track.
"After Lidsdale Road finished second to Tarawi Tiger over 472m at Bulli on May 31 I was concerned he might be getting more dour in the way he races because in that race I was disappointed he didn't appear to muster speed quickly enough in the run to the first turn,'' Coles said.
"He still clocked 26.58 getting beaten so while there was nothing really wrong with his run, I had expected him to hunt up quicker in the run to the first turn.
"Maybe I was being a bit hard on my dog because Aston Barak took 26.57 to win the top grade race at the same meeting.
"Lidsdale Road did want to move to the outside and go around his rivals at Bulli, and because he has always liked doing that, box seven on Wednesday looks a suitable draw.''
Lidsdale Road was successful at his sole appearance wearing the box seven black rug and overcame a slow start to win from box two at his most recent Wentworth Park outing on May 17.
Murrurundi Boy, has box two on Wednesday, won his heat from box four in 29.58, Tiggerlong Amy, a 29.66 heat winner moves from box four to box three and Pick The Point, slowest of the three heat winners at 29.88, goes from box six at Gosford to the rails trap in the final.
Tiggerlong Amy's trainer Kevin Keys believes his bitch can lead all the way providing she brings her usual box manners to Wentworth Park.
"In the Gosford heats she ran the fastest first split, but only just, and she has come out cleanly in four of her past five races,'' Keys said.
"Her only recent flaw at the start was when she finished seventh at Wentworth Park on May 17 but she had jumped smartly when she won in 30.04 from box three there a week earlier.
"When Tiggerlong Amy won at Wenty she had not previously seen the track and she also went into the Gosford heat sight unseen.
"If Tiggerlong Amy begins like she can and leads around the first turn she will be hard to beat.''
Although Pick The Point was the slowest heat winner, he has plenty of ability and trainer Geoff Sattler said: "Box one in the final will suit him down to the ground.
"Pick The Point found plenty of trouble leaving the back straight in his heat at Gosford and under the cricumstances did well to get up and win.
"He is usually a reliable beginner but missed the kick at Gosford.
"He has not raced at Wentworth Park but I took him there last Saturday and trialled him after the last race.
"While he didn't go as well as I expected his time wasn't too bad and apparently the track surface was not real fast on Saturday.''
Coconut Chloe has finished third in each of two Wentworth Park outings and gets her chance after drawing ideally in box one in Wednesday's NSW GBOTA Welcome Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
