On Saturday night at Wentworth Park, Good Odds Cobber will launch a set to take in the $75,000 Ladbrokes Dapto Megastar, the $40,000 Sires On Ice Black Top and the $1m Million Dollar Chase.
The Megastar final is on September 12, the Black Top decider 15 nights later, and the MDC is scheduled for October 18.
Good Odds Cobber has box one in Saturday's Ladbrokes Blackbook Stakes, a top grade 520m event, coming off a sizzling 21.96 victory over the Gosford 388m sprint journey on August 6.
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"I put him in at Gosford because when the Thursday night Wentworth Park meeting was abandoned he needed to have a race somewhere,'' Hurst explained.
"I nominated for a 515m race at Gosford but when none was available I opted to give him a 388m hit-out.''
When Good Odds Cobber exited box one for a comfortable win, it took the son of Fernando Bale's tally from the rails trap to five wins and a placing from six attempts.
That's a daunting scenario for Good Odds Cobber's rivals on Saturday, as he will wear the red rug again.
Most interesting race on Saturday night looms as the Ladbrokes Odds Surge Stakes, a 720m fifth grade, which will herald the long-distance debut of Kangaroo Jack.
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A winner of seven Wentworth Park 520m races where he boasts a flying personal best of 29.56, Kangaroo Jack has been campaigning successfully over middle distances at Richmond.
His trainer Sid Swain knows what it takes to train a stayer, having prepared Let's Be Frank, a winner of 23 races, who smashed the Wentworth Park 720m record in the mid-1990s.
"I knew for sure that Let's Be Frank would stay, but I must admit I'm not certain about Kangaroo Jack,'' Swain said.
"What I do know is that he has had the ideal preparation to handle 720m, having had seven races over 622m and 660m where he got to the line strongly every time.
"Considering he has run 29.56 at Wentworth Park, if he gets on the lure Kangaroo Jack should get away with a big lead.
"If he hits a brick wall it will only be in the last bit but it all depends on how the race is run.
"Kangaroo Jack can't afford to have to work hard to hit the front but he has run home at the end of the Richmond 622m trip in near record time so with a clear run early I expect him to go close to winning.''
Fascinate Trump has won just three of 45 Wentworth Park appearances but has registered 21 placings and is tipped to add to his strike rate by winning Saturday night's Equalizer @ Stud Masters Stakes, 520m.
Fascinate Trump has won only three of 16 starts from boxes seven and eight but trainer Noelene Holloway is hopeful a clean getaway will see her dog lead throughout on Saturday.
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"He handled box eight well when he finished third to Stop It and War Hawk in a graded race at Wentworth Park last week and this seems to be an easier Masters race because none of Steve Fitch's good "Cumbria dogs" are in it,'' Holloway said.
"Fascinate Trump's chances depend on how he gets away because if he jumps as well as he usually does he should be the pacemaker.
"He is now getting to the line more strongly but box eight at Wenty can be hit or miss, even good beginners can miss the kick from out there.''
Former Victorian Extreme Force, unbeaten in two Richmond 324m straight track races since joining Rob Tyler's NSW kennels, is among Fascinate Trump's opponents.
"Extreme Force can get around the circle okay and trialled 22.50 over 401m for me last week at Richmond,'' Tyler said.
"He is a fast dog but he turned four in February and has had only 15 races for eight wins.
"That tells you the dog has had a lot of issues in his career, including one break of 15 months without a race.''
Extreme Force
Tyler is more upbeat about the prospects of another former Victorian, Letizia, who has box four in the Ladbroke It! Stakes 520m fifth grade.
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"She won well at her last start, over 401m at Richmond on July 26, and I think she can lead around the first turn on Saturday,'' Tyler said.
"Letizia had no luck when fourth at her only Wentworth Park race on May 31 after trialling well in a box-to-box hit-out there, clocking a fast second split of 13.79.''
