Zipping Strop, who got within .23sec of the Richmond 520m record in his June 25 maiden win, makes his keenly awaited Wentworth Park debut on Saturday night.
The latest in a string of exciting youngsters to emerge from the Marty Hallinan breeding and rearing establishment, Zipping Strop will exit box five in the gapnsw.com.au Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Minnie Finn, whose husband John trains Zipping Strop, is banking on the dog bringing his fine Richmond form to town.
Since his near record maiden win Zipping Strop has won each of his 520m races at Richmond in slick times of 29.61 and 29.63, with his winning margin in his trio of wins there averaging seven lengths.
"I brought him to Wentworth Park for a trial on Tuesday night and he only clocked 30.13, which to me was a bit disappointing,'' Minnie Finn said.
However with the benefit of that crucial experience on the Wentworth Park circuit Zipping Strop should only need to avoid interference from his awkward draw to continue on his winning way on Saturday night.
Minnie Finn's sister Patricia Chaker could train a winning double with Flying Butcher in the NSW GBOTA Welcome Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, and with Zeroed In, who has drawn eight in the #getyourgreyhoundon Stakes, a similar event.
Zeroed In followed an all the way 30.16 Wentworth Park from a suitably wide box seven draw on July 19 by chasing home Tulsa King in a best time of the night 29.75 at headquarters on Wednesday.
Zeroed In was beaten seven lengths on Wednesday but after jumping in front from box three lost ground by running wide at the first turn and was in second spot from the catching pen onwards.
She will make full use of her box eight position on Saturday night.
Flying Butcher has not raced since leading throughout in 30.39 at Wentworth Park on July 15 and was withdrawn from his race there on July 19.
Patricia Chaker said: "He was a bit sore after his July 15 win so he missed the race four nights later but is 100 per cent again now.
"I have not trialled him since his last win but I don't trial this dog, I just work him along at home.
"That is his normal preparation and that's what I was doing with him before his Wenty win.''
Ibrox Wildfire, who returns to Wentworth Park in Saturday night's Free-For-All, was runner-up in five of her first six races but has since improved so much she has strung together 10 wins and 14 placings over 520m at headquarters.
After finishing down the course at Albion Park on June 16 Ibrox Wildfire was given a month off by trainer Billy Dance and seems to have come back as good as ever.
"Ibrox Wildfire is not a good traveller and by the time we got her back from Brisbane she had gone a bit sour,'' Dance said.
"The break seems to have done her the world of good because she won first up over 400m at Maitland on July 17 in 22.41, best time of the day.
"After that she had a 450m trial there and she ran 25.13, which, on trial morning, is equivalent to breaking 25 on race night.
"My wife Cathy brought Ibrox Wildfire to Wentworth Park on Tuesday night and gave her a box-to-box trial and while she didn't run anything flash she is ready to go on Saturday night.
"We are relieved to see Ibrox Wildfire back near the rails in box two on Saturday.''
Before her Maitland win from box three Ibrox Wildfire had drawn boxes seven or eight in six of her previous seven NSW races.
