One Hot Bandit was the fastest qualifier for Wentworth Park's Ladbrokes Christmas Gift and trainer Andy Lord leans to him over his kennelmate Nangar Larry in Saturday night's final.
In the heats One Hot Bandit came from box four to win in 29.80 while Nangar Larry was a luckless third, beaten just over a length by Zipping Caleb and Eyes To Eyes in 29.89.
Agland Luai ran down My Hepburn to win the other heat in 29.85.
"One Hot Bandit is so strong and from box one I think he should just about win the final, although my other dog Nangar Larry is improving all the time,'' Andy Lord said.
Zipping Vanessa, who broke down when last to Ritza Piper at The Meadows on November 11, pulled up well after trialling satisfactorily at Wentworth Park on Tuesday night and is ready to tackle Saturday's Ladbrokes Christmas Cheer at headquarters.
Ritza Piper has a near-ideal box two draw, while Zipping Vanessa will exit box eight, with Bolt Trease finalist Valpolicella, Sydney-owned by Sandro Becchini but trained in Brisbane by Tony Zammit, in box one.
"I gave Zipping Vanessa a 520m trial at Wentworth Park on Tuesday and she went okay, running 30.03,'' trainer Minnie Finn said.
"I was hoping she would go a bit quicker but the main thing was she pulled up 100 per cent with no soreness.
"She could be a shade under-done stepping up to 720m on Saturday night and while Punter's Bandit will probably be the pacemaker I think Ritza Piper will be awfully hard to beat because she is going so well at the moment.
"Zipping Vanessa has won from box eight but is far better from an inside draw so I'm hoping for the best from her outside alley.''
Zipping Vanessa
Andy Lord, trainer of Punter's Bandit, said: "I expect her to lead early but she is in with a winning chance because I trialled her at Goulburn on Tuesday and she went better than she has ever gone.''
Litter brothers and kennelmates All Lies Ahead and Sal's Blue Boy took out the two 450m heats of the Maitland to Wenty series and have drawn boxes two and six respectively in Saturday night's 520m final.
At Maitland Sal's Blue Boy began brilliantly and led throughout in 24.99 while All Lies Ahead dwelt at the start but after being second in the middle stages finished well to score in 24.94.
They will make their Wentworth Park race debuts in the final but trainer Stephen Keep said: "They know their way around the track because I trialled them at Wenty about five months ago.
"On Saturday I lean to All Lies Ahead as my better chance because he is stronger than Sal's Blue Boy so the 520m will suit him better.
"However there is nothing between them for ability and Sal's Blue Boy is the better beginner.''
Spring Honour, desperately unlucky when unplaced at Wentworth Park last Saturday night, gets his chance to atone in Saturday night's Ladbroke It! Stakes, a 520m fourth and fifth grade.
Last week Spring Honour looked like winning a fourth-grade event when he surged to the lead on the back straight but was galloped on from behind and lost all chance.
Trainer Greg Board said: "Yeah, he got about a half-length in front when his hind legs got clipped and he was dragged down.
"He didn't begin that well last week and is capable of getting away a lot better.
"Spring Honour has box two on Saturday so will probably need to begin cleanly because he likes to get off the track a bit.
"But he can show good burn around that first turn.''
