Ties That Bind's trainer Frank Hurst concedes he has "no big wrap'' on the greyhound but from box one she looms as the best bet of the night in heat two of the Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park tonight.
Ties That Bind has won seven races at Wentworth Park while of her seven rivals the only greyhound to have scored at headquarters is Especially Rare, a wide runner who has box three and has won just a maiden race.
Hurst won the 2019 TAB Million Dollar Chase with Good Odds Harada and was runner-up with Good Odds Cash in this year's Golden Easter Egg so "sets the bar high" when it comes to ranking members of his team.
"Although Ties That Bind has won seven races in town I have never had a big wrap on her and to be fair, her Wenty wins have been in weak races,'' Hurst said.
"She has been up a long time and after the Bracelet series I will be giving her a break from racing.''
French Martini, who won in near record time on debut at Ladbrokes Gardens on March 4 and broke 30sec winning her initial Wentworth Park race on April 9, returns to headquarters in tonight's fourth Ladies Bracelet heat.
French Martini has not raced since being badly checked in the early stages when fourth, from box eight, in a heat of the Nowra Puppy Classic on April 17.
"She pulled up a bit sore after Nowra but I was able to give her a post-to-post slip at Wentworth Park last week,'' trainer Peter Lagogiane said.
"I was a bit disappointed with her time of 24.30 because she is so much quicker than that but considering it was her first hit-out since Nowra I guess I should have been satisfied.''
French Martini has struck by far the strongest of the Bracelet heats, with brilliant front runners She's Savage and Zambora Tiger in boxes one and eight respectively and powerful finisher Good Odds Emma, who won in a fast 29.83 at her most recent Wentworth Park appearance, to come from box four.
Fascinate Mel is unbeaten in two starts from box eight so trainer Noelene Holloway is pleased her greyhound will wear the pink rug in tonight's third Ladies Bracelet heat.
But Holloway warned: "She could be a run short because she cut her foot when she won at WP on March 30 and has had only one trial since.
"So box eight is a big plus for her.''
Queensland trainer Jamie Hosking's pair Pebble's Girl and Repeat Dose will contest their heats of the Ladies Bracelet without having trialled at Wentworth Park.
"I was coming to Sydney to start my stayer Mick's Recall in the Wentworth Park Gold Cup heats on Friday so decided to put the two bitches in the Bracelet.
"Pebble's Girl, who has box four in heat two, has been making the pace in middle distance races in Queensland but while she is strong at the end of 520m she lacks the early speed to lead in a group sprint race like the Bracelet.
"Repeat Dose, who has drawn seven in heat three, has better box manners and possesses good mid-race dash.''
Tonight's best value bet should be Father Rick, who was leaving the WP 520m boxes for the first time when he led most of the way to win in a fast 29.85 from box four on April 20.
Before that race trainer Ray Webster said: "Father Rick has gone well in a post-to-post slip at Wenty so I expect him to go close to winning.''
Father Rick has box six tonight and being a wide runner should only need to jump on terms with his rivals to score again.
Although Father Rick has been beaten in two runs from box six, his record from outside draws is outstanding as nine appearances from boxes seven and eight have resulted in seven wins.
Favourite backers should start the night off well with Tachycardic likely to relish a sharp drop in class when he exits box two in the NSW GBOTA Welcome Stakes, a 520m fourth and fifth grade.
Trainer Kayla-Jane Coleman's husband Shaun Evans said: "Tachycardic has been a terrific money-spinner because he has made three or four group finals.
"His past couple of Wenty runs have been in the Golden Easter Egg final and a heat of the Million Dollar Chase so he is certainly down a lot in grade.
"Tachycardic pulled up well after being unplaced in the fastest of the Million Dollar Chase heats last Saturday and is raring to go again.''
