Allan Keeping has had four wins and four placings from nine starts despite his tendency to miss the jump and from box one in a "quiet" race at Wentworth Park on Saturday night he stands out in the NSW GBOTA Welcome Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Despite being a wide runner, the Jason Magri-trained dog has registered two wins and a second in three appearances from boxes one and two.
And when he was runner-up from box one in a maiden final at Wentworth Park in October, Allan Keeping chased home none other than Nangar Lady, who proved the form by subsequently winning another seven races at headquarters.
Allan Keeping's box manners are usually offset by the way he musters speed so quickly, like he did in his latest win at Wentworth Park on January 23.
Despite being among the last to leave the boxes, Allan Keeping was the pacemaker rounding the first turn.
Trunkey Chief, who missed qualifying for the Million Dollar Chase by only three-quarters of a length, returns to Wentworth Park in Saturday's Equalizer @ Stud Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Trainer Tony Godden said: "Trunkey Chief nearly hit the front in the straight but was grabbed on the line in his Million Dollar Chase semi-final and beaten less than a length by the WA dog, Bezzecchi.
"He has won five races at Wenty and always gives you his best.
"Although he has not been over 520m since November, Trunkey Chief has had three short course races at Richmond to bring him to peak fitness.
"He has had a win and two seconds in those Richmond 320m and 401m races and is going as well now as when he contested the Million Dollar Chase series.''
Godden also has Trunkey Chief's litter brother Trunkey Shearer making his long-distance debut in Saturday's Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Stakes, a 720m fifth grade.
Trunkey Shearer has finished strongly to be placed over 600m at Dapto and 590m at Bulli over the past three weeks and Godden is quietly confident the dog will see out the tough 720m trip.
"He has certainly been 'crying out' for a longer distance and knows his way around Wentworth Park because he was placed in three successive races over 520m there in October and November,'' Tony Godden said.
Godden rates Bandit Daryl, now trained by Jason Mackay, as the main danger.
Bandit Daryl has had a win and seven placings in 10 Wentworth Park 720 tests where he has clocked a fast 41.85.
Fascinate John, who clocked a smart 29.65 winning over 515m at The Gardens on January 29, is among the main chances in Saturday's Sponsor a Race @ Wenty Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Fascinate John, who has box one, made a promising Wentworth Park debut in finishing second, from box six, to Al's Boy in 30.34 on February 6, after disputing the lead most of the way.
Trainer Noelene Holloway said: "Fascinate John had trialled at Wentworth Park before his race last week but that was last year, when he was still being educated and was unraced.
Paw Zeva, who has box two, looks Fascinate John's toughest rival as she has won over 525m at The Meadows and was a luckless fast finishing third in a 320m "flutter" at Richmond on February 9.
Our Inspiration, who led all the way from box five to win in 30.04 at Wentworth Park in November, is back in town for the first time this year in Saturday's Ladbrokes Mode Hosted Pots Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
She began brilliantly to lead throughout over 401m at Richmond on February 9 and trainer Tony Messina considers she "perfectly" drawn in box two on Saturday.
"Our Inspiration is going as well as she was when she won at Wentworth Park last year and has been flying out of the boxes lately,'' Messina said.
"While Peloponnese looks hard to beat on Saturday night, I'm hoping Our Inspiration can jump in front again and set the pace.''
