Simply Limelight clocked a flying 29.48 winning the Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park but unraced maiden Like Wildfire recorded similar figures in a sensational recent trial at headquarters.
The Michael Ivers-trained Like Wildfire makes his keenly anticipated Wentworth Park debut in heat one of Wednesday night's Maiden Stakes and will exit box four.
Like Wildfire is a litter brother to the Michael Ivers-owned and bred Trooper Tears and Trapper Tears, who finished first and second respectively in the $150,000 to the winner Sandown Launching Pad final on April 6.
"The reason Like Wildfire is so far behind his brothers is because he dislocated a toe early in his career,'' Michael Ivers said.
"But he is a fast dog and in a 520m trial at Wentworth Park Like Wildfire clocked 29.40-odd, he certainly got under 29.50.
"As good as he is there are no guarantees with unraced puppies, especially with this fellow as he is a bit slow early.''
Like Wildfire is likely to face stern opposition from another unraced youngster, the Dennis Barnes-trained Nangar Rip, whose litter sister Miss McGraw makes her debut in heat two of the Maiden Stakes.
Miss McGraw is trained by Jack Smith who has a high opinion of the greyhound, a candidate for next month's Bill and Peg Miller Memorial series at Dubbo.
Nad Al Sheba was clearly fastest qualifier for Wednesday night's Maitland To Wentworth Park Final, winning his 450m heat on April 10 in 25.15.
He has box one in the final but trainer Peter Lagogiane said: "I think he would probably be better suited drawn wide.
"Having said that, in two post-to-post hand-slips at Wentworth Park Nad Al Sheba has railed superbly, but of course that was under solo trial conditions.''
Lagogiane named the dog after the district which housed his kennels when he was private trainer for Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
Golden Easter Egg winner Simply Limelight returns to Wentworth Park on Wednesday with a suitable box two draw in the 520m Free-For-All, when he will clash with the 2022 Egg winner She's A Pearl.
Andy Lord, trainer of She's A Pearl, said: "She pulled up a bit sore after finishing sixth in her Easter Egg semi-final on April 1 so I scrapped plans to take her to Perth for the Sandgroper at Cannington.
"But she has just trialled really well up my straight track at home so is ready to go again.''
She's A Pearl
Lord is upbeat about the prospects of Where's Bonbon, who has box two in race five, a 520m fifth grade, and Doonan, resuming from a long spell in race six, a fourth and fifth grade over the same trip.
"Where's Bonbon trialled brilliantly at Wentworth Park recently and she only needs to get the start right to go close to winning on Wednesday,'' Lord said.
"Doonan has not raced since hurting a hock at Wentworth Park in November but he is flying, I'd say he is going better than ever.
"He has won 11 races at Wentworth Park but during all that time he could only ever clock 25sec in trials over 440m at Goulburn, but this preparation he has gone 24.59 there.
'I could hardly believe it because Doonan is not suited to a one turn track like Goulburn, he is better off on a tighter course like Wentworth Park.''
But Doonan has box five and will need to do everything right to topple Wyndra All Class, who is well positioned in box eight.
Wyndra All Class is in the best form of her career and followed a sizzling 29.44 win in The Ambrosoli at Wentworth Park on April 8 with an all-the-way winning romp in 29.55 in a fourth and fifth grade at headquarters last Wednesday.
