Wednesday night's Wentworth Park meeting promises to be something special as it will feature the first long-distance appearance of sensational prospect Like Wildfire, already a winner of seven from eight starts.
Since winning on debut over 520m at Wentworth Park and clocking near record time over 515m at Gosford, Like Wildfire has been a revelation, breaking the middle distance records at Gosford and Ladbrokes Gardens over 603m and 600m respectively as well as twice clocking near record times over those distances.
Like Wildfire steps out over 720m for the first time in Wednesday night's Congratulations Zipping Remus Stakes where he will exit box seven against established Wentworth Park stayers Zipping Vanessa (box one), Punter's Bandit (box two) and Ritza Piper (box eight).
Trainer Michael Ivers said: "I have no doubt Like Wildfire is faster than any of these greyhounds over a middle distance but he is stepping up to 720m for the first time.
"I have not trialled him over this distance so it is all new to him.
"From box seven he has to get around his rivals and then he has to run the distance out strongly so I'm not getting too excited just yet.''
Andy Lord, trainer of Punter's Bandit, said: "Like Wildfire might have to go as quick as 41.50 to win this.
"My greyhound has had two wins and a third from four Wentworth Park 720m starts and has clocked 41.67 over that course.
"And Punter's Bandit is going better than ever, she won over 600m at Dapto last Thursday in 34.20, just outside the track record.
"But I have great respect for Like Wildfire because he is prepared by Michael Ivers, a great trainer of stayers.''
Best bet on Wednesday night looks to be Punter's Bandit's kennelmate One Hot Bandit, who has box eight in heat two of the Dogs Only fifth grade over 520m.
One Hot Bandit found trouble when trying to get wide from box three after being sent out a $1.80 favourite in a heat of the group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park on July 1 but had won five of his previous eight races.
One Hot Bandit has won each of his two starts wearing the pink rug and Lord said: "He definitely likes it out there.''
Lord also has My Bandit in box two in heat one of the Dogs Only fifth grade, and believes this dog is close to his first Wentworth Park win.
My Bandit has been runner-up in two of four Wentworth Park appearances but Lord said: "He twice trialled 29.80 at Wenty before he raced there and that shows he is capable of winning in town.
"He just hasn't put it all together yet but should now be ready to run a big race.''
Best graded greyhound at Wentworth Park on Wednesday has to be the Justin King-trained Reflections, who has box four in heat two of the Bitches Only 520m fifth grade.
Reflections has contested top grade or competed against first graders at her past nine Wentworth Park outings for a win and three placings and with a personal best Wenty time of 29.71 and early splits of 5.42 and 13.89 to her credit she should lead all the way on Wednesday.
Although she has box four Reflections is set to get room to move in the run to the first turn, courtesy of Miss McGraw, who has drawn five and tends to run in the middle of the track.
