There is no Million Dollar Chase or Golden Easter Egg on at Wentworth Park on Saturday night but the Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Stakes, a modest 520m fourth grade, is shaping up to be the most thrilling contest of 2024.
The seven-dog lineup features the mouth-watering clash of Power And Glory, who broke the Bulli 472m record on Tuesday night, and boom youngster Rinsed The Lot, who has had seven wins and three placings from 10 Wentworth Park appearances.
On Tuesday Power And Glory led throughout in 25.76, eclipsing the 25.78 record run by the mighty Aston Dee Bee in April 2017, and equalled six years later by Mowski Star.
Power And Glory has box four but as he shifts slightly to the right he should relish having a vacant box in five.
His only hang-up could be the up-and-coming Hayley Moffitt-trained From The East, who has box three and tends to move wide.
Brad Canty, part-owner of Rinsed The Lot, is also excited at the prospect of watching his dog clash with the new Bulli record holder, but believes box two favours his greyhound.
"Rinsed The Lot has the best draw ever,'' Canty declared.
"He only has to come out cleanly, and if he does, I'll be surprised if he doesn't win.
"He has missed the kick at his past couple of starts so his trainer Michelle Sultana took him to Appin on Tuesday and gave him a hit-out up the straight behind the drag lure.
"Hopefully that will sharpen up his box manners for Saturday.''
Rinsed The Lot
Adding spice to what most experts regard as a match race is the presence in box one of the Mark Gatt-trained Ritza Smoke and of Ferness, ideally drawn in box eight.
Ritza Smoke has clocked 29.51 from box one at Wentworth Park while Ferness has recorded 29.46 from box eight.
Power And Glory's best time is 29.28 (from box one) while Rinsed The Lot's quickest Wentworth Park figures are 29.41, from box two, his draw on Saturday.
Trainer Craig Chappelow expects a bold showing from Euphoria, who has drawn box one in Saturday night's Ladbrokes Fast Withdrawals 1-3 Win Final, 520m.
Euphoria jumped fast from box five and made all the pace when second, beaten just under a length, by My Baroque Love in her heat in 30.41.
"The track was slow that night which explains why Euphoria got tired in the straight.
"She clocked 30.45 getting beaten but had trialled 30.09 at Wentworth Park a few days earlier.''
Chappelow's bonny bitch Embrace will take her earnings to $250,110 if she takes out Saturday's opening event. the 520m NSW GBOTA Welcome Masters Stakes.
"It would be nice to see her top the quarter of a million mark,'' Chappelow said.
"Embrace likes a wide draw although box eight can be tricky at Wentworth Park.''
Embrace
Smart Northern Rivers dog Backcreek Benny will go into Saturday's Where Else But Wenty Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, without a run on the track.
Trainer Robert Andrews said: "He has not trialled there but I am using this to let him get acquainted with the course before the Million Dollar Chase city qualifiers on October 5.
"Backcreek Benny is not brilliant early but likes to rail and is very strong at the finish so he looks drawn okay in box three.
"If the bitch in box two moves off the track a bit Backcreek Benny might find the fence.''
She has been most unlucky when third and sixth from unsuitably wide draws in her two Wentworth Park 720m appearances but rattled home when third over 520m at Nowra on Monday.
Trainer Greg Hore said: "Siska Lucy is having her first long-distance race since July so could be one run short but the rails draw is a huge plus and I think she will run a big race.''
