SATURDAY night's siresonice.com.au Free-For-All is just a regular top grade Wentworth Park 520m event but the presence of She's A Pearl, Simply Limelight and five other high class sprinters make the race worthy of a group one final.
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Simply Limelight stunned Wentworth Park fans when he became the first greyhound to give the great She's A Pearl a start and a beating in a similar event at headquarters on March 27 and their eagerly awaited return match gets under way at 8.08 on Saturday night.
Added to the intriguing mix are National Futurity winner Wyndra All Class and up-and-coming youngster Modern Swinger, along with proven Wenty stars Ibrox Wildfire, Father Rick and Connections.
The depth of class in this race is such that Connections, who has won a remarkable 21 of his 34 races, will be among the outsiders.
Simply Limelight's trainer Peter Rodgers has his dog ready to inflict another defeat on She's A Pearl, who has been first past the post in 23 of her 31 Wentworth Park appearances.
She's A Pearl (7) and Simply Limelight (2) clashed on May 27 with Simply Limelight victorious
Rodgers said: "On Tuesday night I took him to Wenty and gave him a 280m trial and he clocked 15.80,'' (Laurie's Flyer's track record, set in December, 2020, stands at 15.72).
"For a dog midway through a 520m campaign I was very happy with that, especially as his run home time was an excellent 10.57.
"Box three looks a good draw for Simply Limelight, I like him positioned near the fence and as always he will be looking for that sweet spot on the rails.
"Only dog who could cause him a problem is Father Rick, who has box one and wants to get off the track slightly.
"Ironically I broke Father Rick in for his trainer Ray Webster.
"But I know She's A Pearl is going to be awfully hard to beat, she is a true champion.
"But Simply Limelight has a knack of finding a way to win.''
Sublime Ethics' lack of success on the track has been frustrating owner-trainer David Smith but the talented daughter of Barcia Bale ad White Sox Ethics looks set to notch her second win in Saturday night's NSW GBOTA Welcome Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
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Sublime Ethics clocked 30.07 in her all-the-way win at her Wentworth Park debut on May 17 but has since finished second there before being placed at Bulli and Maitland.
"She had a bad draw when she finished third at Maitland on June 5 and found big trouble when second at Bulli on May 31,'' David Smith said.
"But it is frustrating to think Sublime Ethics has won just once in five starts considering she is the fastest greyhound in my kennel.
"Sublime Ethics is quicker than dogs like Tarawi Rocky and Got The Feature, yet they have won two dozen races.
"Although Sublime Ethics likes to use a bit of the track box two seems a nice draw for her on Saturday night.''
Sublime Ethics on May 17
Mister O'Brien lost all chance when trapped outside the wide running Lucy The Weapon on the first turn at Wentworth Park last Saturday and he should make amends after drawing ideally in box one in this week's Ladbrokes Sports Bar Open Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
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The Glenn Bryen-trained dog lacks early pace but possesses a powerful finish and in his only race out of box one he won as a heavily backed $1.75 favourite at Wentworth Park on March 22.
In that race Mister O'Brien's rails draw helped put him into third position on the back straight and he railed to the lead at the top of the straight.
Andy Lord, who trained four of the 10 winners at Wentworth Park on Wednesday, has four of the eight starters in Saturday night's Ladbrokes Mates Mode Stakes, a top grade 720m event.
His star Wentworth Park 720m performers are Punter's Bandit (box four) and Cawbourne Magic (box six) but their lightly raced kennelmate Tiger Jack (box two) will prove a worthy adversary.
Cawbourne Magic
Punters will have to wait until race 11, the second and third grade Masters Stakes, for Saturday's best bet.
The Vince Spiteri-trained Sally's Reward, a reliable beginner who has won 23 of her 71 appearances, should lead throughout from box four.
