Wentworth Park fans are going to see more of their new track record holder with Dalwhinnie's trainer Bill Butler scrapping plans to take the dog to Melbourne for the Group 1 Silver Chief Classic.
Instead, Dalwhinnie will campaign at Wentworth Park, beginning on Thursday night, before heading to Brisbane for heats of the Queensland Derby on December 27.
Dalwhinnie has box two in Thursday night's Ladbrokes Blackbook Stakes, a 1-3 wins fifth grade, and Butler is pleased with the dog's draw.
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"I had intended taking him to Melbourne for the Silver Chief but he has just returned from a campaign in Brisbane and I'm keen to take him back to Albion Park for the Derby series,'' Butler said.
"I decided it wasn't fair to the dog to be going back and forth from Brisbane to Sydney, then to Melbourne, then back to Brisbane.
"So while the Queensland Derby is his immediate goal Dalwhinnie can have a couple of low-grade races at Wenty until later this month.''
Irinka Benji has not won in four starts for new owner-trainer Jay Opetaia but has a great chance of breaking through in Thursday night's Christmas Group Racing Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
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In October Irinka Benji was placed once in three starts for Opetaia after he purchased the dog from Forbes trainer Jack Smith.
But after a short letup, Irinka Benji resumed with a desperately unlucky second over 400m at Maitland on November 25.
After being last to leave the boxes, Irinka Benji swept around the field and took a narrow lead halfway down the straight, before his momentum was interrupted by another greyhound hampering him severely.
Irinka Benji did well to finish second, clocking a respectable 22.66 in the process, and Opetaia expects the dog to race well on Thursday.
"He is still on the fresh side so hopefully that will bring him out of the boxes cleanly on Thursday,'' Opetaia said.
"I was really pleased with his run at Maitland because he had not previously seen the track.''
Interestingly, Irinka Benji's fastest Wentworth Park time of a sizzling 29.45 was recorded in July after the dog jumped from box one, his draw on Thursday.
Mr Nicko was beaten nine lengths into third place at Wentworth Park last Saturday night but he was unlucky not to have finished much closer to the winner.
Mr Nicko had box four and was badly checked at the start when the dog in box five veered sharply to the left.
Mr Nicko came from last soon after that incident to beat home all but Gold Force and early leader Bugle Girl.
Trainer Peter Lagogiane said: "I think Mr Nicko is going to turn out pretty good.
"He has had two wins and two placings from four starts and is royally bred so we should expect him to do well.
"Mr Nicko has not previously had box eight, his draw on Thursday, but I like him out there, I think the outside alley will suit him.''
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Zipping Chaplin has had box one just once, winning a 520m maiden race at Nowra in April, in the best time of the meeting.
But she should make it two from two wearing the red rug when she contests Thursday night's Ladbrokes Paul Wheeler Heats Stakes, a 520m top grade.
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Zipping Chaplin had won five races at Wentworth Park before his fast finishing third to Sammy Ethan and Sooty Keeping at Wentworth Park last Thursday night but his minor placing last week was without doubt his best performance.
After being last away from box eight and a distant fifth on the back straight, Zipping Chaplin flashed home along the rails to finish one-and-a-half lengths from the winner.
In doing so, Zipping Chaplin posted his fastest Wentworth Park figures of 29.52.
