Esme Watson is set to join the ranks of greyhound racing's "super mums" by winning at Wentworth Park on Thursday night seven months after whelping a litter of pups.
The John Smart-trained bitch has box four in the 520m Where Else But Wenty Masters and as a winner of seven races at the track looks a class above her rivals.
"Seven months ago Esme Watson had four puppies to Shima Shine and I intended to retire her,'' Smart said.
"But she kept running around the yard like an idiot so I put her back into work and she has been placed in two of her past five Wentworth Park starts.
"I have just retired her litter brother Showman Jack but I can't complain because three litters from their dam Lovelace have earned $650,000.''
Esme Watson
Zipping Sylvia has not won in five starts from box one but trainer Tyler Ginn insists she is ideally positioned on the rails in Thursday night's Ladbrokes Same Race Multi Stakes, a 520m fifth grade at Wentworth Park.
She has won three races at Wentworth Park so looks well placed on Thursday and Ginn said she slipped on the mat in front of the boxes when she finished sixth, from box seven, at headquarters on January 4.
"At the same time she slipped, the dog in box eight flew out and cut to the rails so I was happy with Zipping Sylvia's run,'' Ginn said.
"She had a trial at Wentworth Park on Monday and went well so she gets her chance to get back into the winner's circle.''
Although Zipping Sylvia's record from box one is poor, she has shown her liking for an inside draw by winning three of seven appearances from boxes two and three.
Zipping Sylvia and Tyler Ginn
Rev It Suzie indicated her readiness to tackle Wentworth Park for the first time with a handy box-to-box trial and she looks well drawn in two in Thursday's Redden Photo Video Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
The Adam Jones-trained bitch will be having her first race since overcoming early interference to win by five lengths over 388m at Gosford on December 31.
Jones' father Steven said: "Rev It Suzie is coming off a sprint race but she is real strong, the 520m will actually suit her.
"Since Gosford she has had a box-to-box trial at Wentworth Park and she clocked 5.50 and a bit over 18sec to the back so those times should put her into Thursday's race with a good chance.''
Ali Tango will be making her first Wentworth Park appearance since October when she exits box one in Thursday's Free-For-All over 520m.
Ali Tango is ideally positioned in box one, as she has won four of her six appearances wearing the red rug, but trainer Joe McFadyen is concerned she could be short of a run.
"She has had enough work for this race but has raced only once since late November and you can't beat match fitness,'' McFadyen said.
"I brought her back to Wenty because I was struggling to get a run with her at the provincials.''
Zipping Dempsey found the 320m at Richmond on January 10 too short and should break through for his first Wentworth Park win in Thursday's Ladbrokes Sports Bar Max Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
