Steve Fitch trained the winning trifecta in the top-grade Masters race at Wentworth Park on July 6 and is poised to repeat that remarkable performance with a trio of litter siblings at headquarters on Saturday night.
A fortnight ago Cumbria Kid led all the way from box one to easily defeat his litter sister and kennelmate Cumbria Miss in a slick 29.76 with their brother Cumbria Mal, also trained at Nowra by their owner-breeder Steve Fitch, just over a length away third.
Fitch's quartet, whelped by a bitch who was a gift to him, have earned $454,945 and will boost that tally to $463,770 of they fill the placings in this week's Ladbrokes Blackbook Masters Stakes, 520m.
Fitch plumps for Cumbria Kid, his Million Dollar Chase runner-up, as the likely winner, but warned Cumbria Mal was drawn to make things tough for his litter brother.
"It's hard to go past Cumbria Kid from an inside box but Cumbria Mal, who had box four when they met on July 6, is perfectly suited out wide in box eight,'' Fitch said.
Fitch is also happy with August Bob's box seven draw in Saturday's Ladbrokes Easy Form final, 520m, following the dog's all-tne-way heat win from the same trap at WP on July 11.
August Bob disputed the early lead but took command going through the pen to win his heat by nearly four lengths in 29.62, fastest time of the night.
"He might have to cope with some early pace from Ashley Dwyer's dog Royal Panama in box eight but yes, I'm happy with August Bob's draw on Saturday,'' Fitch said.
CROWDED HOUSE, a gift to owner-trainer Meredith Verhagen, could give the Hunter Valley trainer her first WP winner on Saturday night.
CROWDED HOUSE, who was given away to Verhagen by his Victorian owner, has box eight in Saturday's Ladbroke it! 1-4 Win Stakes, 520m.
The dog Chased Chuck Keeping all the way when second, beaten three-and-a-half lengths in a smart 29.84, at his WP debut last Saturday night.
Verhagen, whose family owns WP star Kangaroo Jack, has held a trainer's licence for four years.
"I was pleased with CROWDED HOUSE's second at WP last week because he had not previously seen the track, he had never been trialed there,'' Verhagen said.
"He loves being boxed out wide so I'm rapt seeing him in box eight on Saturday night.''
Brooklyn Brute's personal best WP figures of 29.62 are clearly the quickest of the runners in Saturday night's Ladbrokes Sports Bar Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
But trainer Kerry Drynan admits her dog's chances depend on him "finding the fence and getting a clear run.''
Drynan said: "Brooklyn Brute hasn't got much early pace and loves the rails. Box three suits him just so long as he gets a clear run along the inside.''
Brooklyn Brute has won from box three over 520m at Richmond in a nippy 29.80 and clocked a fast 29.62 from the same draw when second, beaten narrowly by Saint Rico, over 520m at WP in May.
Ferness, minor placegetter in this year's Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg and Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic finals at WP, should be back in the winner's circle at headquarters on Saturday night.
Ferness has box six in the 520m Equalizer @ Stud Stakes, a fourth grade race, which represents a drop in class to the group 1 finals the Ron Evans-trained dog has contested recently.
"Having a vacant box next time in box five helps and Ferness runs pretty straight from the boxes to the first corner so he is drawn okay,'' trainer Evans said.
