SMART Fernando was a $34 outsider when he defeated brilliant front runner Suzie's Face in a Free-For-All at Wentworth Park nearly two months ago and is going equally well now according to trainer Greg Sutherland.
Smart Fernando returns to Wentworth Park in Saturday night's opening event, a 520m fifth grade, which represents a big drop in class on his February 2 Wenty win.
Sutherland's dog will have only five rivals on Saturday with Loui Wonton's trainer John Smart announcing his dog pulled up sore after his good second placing at Wentworth Park last week and would be scratched.
"I can't believe how well Smart Fernando is going at the moment but he has simply been racing without luck,'' Sutherland said.
"He was taken off the track when in a winning position before being unplaced in a semi-final of the Stockman & Paddock Country Classic over 605m at Dubbo last week.
"If that had not happened he would have run a place for sure and might even have won.
"His second behind Bandit Ned in his heat of the Classic at Nowra on February 28 was a fantastic effort.
"The small field on Saturday night will suit Smart Fernando and he should only need to jump cleanly to run a big race.''
South Australian stayer Fantastic Radley has joined Nowra trainer Garry Edwards' kennels to be prepared for the 720m group 1 Association Cup heats at Wentworth Park on April 2 and will have a pipe opener at headquarters on Saturday night.
Fantastic Radley , who finished third over 725m at The Meadows on February 19 has box one in race eight, a 520m fifth grade.
Fantastic Radley has won five of his seven appearances wearing the red rug and looks perfectly positioned as Mr Beethoven, who has box two, is a wide runner.
"He knows his way around Wenty because he had a few 720m races there and won a couple earlier in his career,'' Fantastic Radley's new trainer Garry Edwards said.
"I gave him a post-to-post hand-slip at Dapto last week and he went extra well.
"His time was only a length slower than Soul To Squeeze, who has qualified for Monday's Maitland Cup final and Fantastic Radley ran home particularly well in that trial.''
Saturday's best bet should be Zipping Rubble, from the in form Jason Magri kennel, who will exit box one in race four, a moderate 520m fifth grade.
Zipping Rubble has had four wins, a dead-heat for first and three placings from eight starts at the provincials.
He clocked a flying 26.17 in easily defeating the talented That's My Guy over 472m at Bulli on February 27 and got up to dead-heat with that dog there on Tuesday, despite leaving the boxes three lengths behind the field.
Our Amelia, a kennelmate of Zipping Rubble, clocked fastest heat time of 30.06 while Good Odds Emma overcame difficulties to win her heat in 30.24.
The box draw could tip the scales in Good Odds Emma's favour as she has won two of her three starts from box one and will wear the red jacket, while Our Amelia has drawn awkwardly in box five.
