Trunkey Chief's form over the past month has been nothing short of a revelation and at Wentworth Park on Saturday night the dog looks drawn to take his tally since late April to five wins and a second from six starts.
Trunkey Chief has box two in the Ladbrokes Sports Bar Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, and trainer Tony Godden is pleased with that draw.
"I'm certainly happy with that box and if he runs his 29.60-odd again he will be hard to beat,'' Godden said.
Trunkey Chief has not previously drawn box two but has registered three wins and a second from four appearances out of box one so relishes an inside position.
In fact at Wentworth Park, many trainers prefer box two to one because good beginners can often dwell at the start when they exit the extreme inside slot.
Trunkey Chief has recorded between 29.63 and 29.77 in his past four Wentworth Park assignments, a remarkably consistent tally for a greyhound just 25 months of age.
"She had no luck at all when second in her heat and is going well, although she is a couple of lengths slower than her brother,'' Godden said.
Hayley Moffitt, the daughter of champion trainers JODIE and Andy Lord, will be chasing her first Wentworth Park winner since taking out her own training licence when she leads out From The East for Saturday night's Ladbrokes Communities Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Trainer Kim Mulrine is banking on Sergis Banner's early dash will offset her greyhound's less-than-suitable box seven draw in Saturday night's Equalizer @ Stud Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
"But he went well in a recent 520m trial there, clocking 30 seconds flat,'' Mulrine said.
"Box seven is not ideal because Sergis Banner does want to get to the rails but he has plenty of early speed so I'm hoping he can get a cart across to the fence.''
Most trainers with reserves in finals are hoping for a start but Garry Coles, trainer of Still Available, wants his dog starting in Saturday's Ladbroke It! 520m fifth grade instead of the Ladbrokes 1-4 Win final, for which he is first reserve.
"Although Still Available has box six in the Ladbroke It! Stakes that looks a far easier race than the final,'' Coles said.
"Still Available has finished third in two of his three Wentworth Park races but his latest run on May 24, was a cracker.
"He missed the kick and then he got hammered at the first turn and with a clear run I reckon Still Available is capable of getting down to 29.70 at Wentworth Park.
"Before he raced there I gave him a post-to-post slip and he clocked a smart 24.20, running home in a terrific time of 11.55, so he definitely has the ability.''
