AFTER winning his past 11 starts and 14 of his 15 most recent appearances, Fire Legend is the dog to beat in the Masters Meteor series which gets under way at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night.
Mark Moroney's durable warrior, who has won 51 of 113 races and made the pace when a close third in the May 7 Masters Meteor final, has box two in heat three on Wednesday.
First and second placegetters, along with the two fastest thirds from three heats will earn a crack at the $100,000 to the winner final over 520m at Wentworth Park on September 24.
On May 7 Fire Legend exited box one and led to the top of the straight before fading and finishing just a length behind the winner Angry Blizzard.
Trainer Mark Moroney believes Fire Legend is now stronger at the end of 520m, pointing out: "He had ongoing wrist problems earlier in the year but they are behind him now.''
But Fire Legend will face stern opposition in the new Meteor series, beginning with Gypsy Yankee in his heat.
Gypsy Yankee made his debut for new trainer Shayne Stiff when he led throughout in a fast 29.89 at Wentworth Park on September 3 and he has drawn box one against Fire Legend.
"Providence Bale has not raced at Wenty but knows the track, he had a trial there a long while back,'' Tom Dailly said.
"He is not a brilliant beginner but usually gets away reasonably well and has a bit of early pace as well.''
Providence Bale has been placed against tough opposition in four of his past five races at The Meadows, Geelong and Ballarat.
Likely pacemaker in heat two is Hyperventilate, who has box one and although a Wentworth Park 520m winner is regarded as one of the state's best short course speedsters.
Darrin Croser, whose wife Jo-Ann trains the dog, said: "Hyperventilate has not raced for six weeks but is trialling as good as ever.
"His most recent hit-out was a 460m hand-slip at Bulli but before that he clocked 18.01 in 320m trial at Richmond, and that is only a tick outside course record time.
"Hyperventilate is not a strong 520m dog so he needs to jump cleanly from box one and get away with a big early lead.
"He has not seen Wentworth Park since April but that is in his favour, because he switches on more when a track is coming fresh to him.''
Well Grounded, prepared by top Victorian trainer Jeff Britton's wife Angela Langton, has won two of his past three starts over 460m at Geelong and will be one of the favourites for heat one of the Meteor.
But he has box six and the draw favours Jax Bale, a new addition to trainer Mark Davidson's kennels.
"I only got the dog last Thursday so don't know a lot about him but his owner Tim Aloisi sent me a text when he saw the box draw and seemed very excited about Jax Bale getting the rails.
"I gave Jax Bale a slip around Maitland on Sunday and he went nicely.''
Wednesday's card also features three heats of the Million Dollar Maiden, which carries a $15,000 to the winner first prize for the September 24 final.
