Jodie and Andy Lord won the 2020 Young Star final with Rapallo and the Southern Tablelands trainers' candidates for this year's series, comprising litter brothers King Tide, Ayden's Warrior and Law Book, will continue their preparation at Wentworth Park on Thursday night.
Heats of the Young Star will be held at Wentworth Park on Sunday, October 13 with the $25,000 to the winner final five nights later, the event for youngsters whelped on or after April 1, 2022.
On Thursday King Tide, who has box three in the Ladbrokes Communities Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, looks the best bet of the night while Ayden's Warrior, who has box two in the similar Ladbrokes Sports Bar Stakes, also has outstanding claims.
Law Book, who has box six the Ladbrokes Own Spring Stakes, looks to have the toughest task but Andy Lord, trainer Jodie's husband, insists: "There is not much between the three of them."
"They look right for the Young Star but after that series we will be trying them over a middle distance as we think they are going to be very successful over 600m or even further.
"Ayden's Warrior's four races have all been at Wentworth Park and although he won his maiden from box eight in 30.12 on August 22, he is better suited from the inside.
"He has done well because in each start he has drawn box six, seven or eight.''
King Tide's eight Wentworth Park appearances have resulted in four wins, two seconds and a third, and he posted a flying 29.63 from box two on August 29, much faster than any of his opponents this week have recorded.
King Tide is a powerful finisher so should relish having only six rivals on Thursday night.
The perfect age for the Young Star is the Minnie Finn-trained Zipping Kerr, whelped on April 7, 2022, who is ideally drawn in box eight in Thursday's Follow RPV Race Images Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Zipping Kerr will be among the most experienced Young Star hopefuls as on Thursday she will be lining up for her 17th appearance at Wentworth Park, with her tally already an imposing five wins and four placings.
Zipping Kerr had box eight when she scored by six lengths at Wentworth Park last Saturday, covering the 520m in a slick 29.82, comparable to her personal best figures of 29.43, posted from box six on July 20.
Those figures are impressive because the track record of 19.33 was set by More Sauce nearly three years ago.
Forbes trainer Jack Smith will be at Wentworth Park on Thursday with several starters including maiden Irinka Lindsay and his exciting "come from behind" performer Flash Boom Bang.
Irinka Lindsay has box five in the NSW GBOTA Welcome Maiden while Flash Boom Bang will exit box one, his favourite draw, in the 520m Vale Graham McNeice Stakes top grade event.
Irinka Lindsay missed the start when second at Wentworth Park at his only race but Jack Smith said: "On Thursday he should be better for that experience.
"He has been working nicely at home but while Irinka Lindsay doesn't have a lot of box speed or early pace he should go well.''
Flash Boom Bang will contest the Wentworth Park qualifying heats of the Million Dollar Chase on October 5 after finishing fourth in a regional final of the race to kennelmate Bella Una at his most recent outing.
"He found awful trouble at the first turn at Dubbo so because he goes as well at Wenty as anywhere he might as well try and qualify for the MDC in the heats there,'' Smith said.
Flash Boom Bang had box one, his draw on Thursday, when he won his Dubbo regional heat in a sensational 29.29, not far off the track record of 28.93 hld by Jungle Deuce, another Jack Smith-trained dog.
