Power And Glory has not raced since his race record-smashing win in the Group One Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg on April 12, but Ken Burnett's dog produced a sensational solo performance at Wentworth Park on Tuesday night.
Trialling in preparation for Saturday night's second heat of the group three Bob Payne Sprint, Power And Glory completed a post-to-post slip in an amazing 23.51.
Power And Glory
"The track was on the heavy side, and it was raining, so he went super,'' trainer Ken Burnett said.
Power And Glory has box three on Saturday night and while Burnett has always preferred the dog coming from a wide draw, the Easter Egg winner looks a class above his opponents.
Burnett's only concern is that Simply The Best, who is yet to win in six Wentworth Park appearances, has early speed and has drawn alongside his dog in box four.
But Simply The Best tends to run in a straight line from the boxes to the first turn and usually races in the centre of the track.
West Rock Casey, a litter brother and kennelmate of top class stayer Late Night News, looks the dog to beat in heat one of the Bob Payne.
West Rock Casey recently resumed from a short break but recorded his personal best Wentworth Park time of 29.68 when he ran down Sinaloa Girl over 520m at Wentworth Park last Saturday.
The Caroline Hughes-trained dog exited box seven and has the same draw on Saturday night.
"He loves being drawn wide, especially at Wenty,'' Hughes said after West Rock Casey's win last Saturday.
She's That Girl, who will be defending her flawless Wentworth Park record when she exits box three in Saturday night's fourth heat of the Group Three Evans & Son Ladies Bracelet, trialled brilliantly at Wentworth Park last Thursday night.
She's That Girl, fresh from an unsuccessful tilt at Melbourne's Sandown Launching Pad earlier this month, sizzled over the 520m trip last week in 29.40.
Those figures are just .17sec outside her personal best Wentworth Park time and trainer Peter Lagogiane said: "She is a special greyhound and I believe her only worry could be if she misses the jump and finds trouble.''
She's That Girl
Lagogiane, who trained the 2021 and 2022 Bracelet final winners Pay Call and French Martini, also has the in-form Summer Quinn in box eight in heat one of this year's Group Three event for bitches.
After being slightly disappointing when beaten in her first three Wentworth Park outings, Summer Quinn has found form at the right time, winning her past three starts at headquarters in 29.55, 29.54 and 29.49 respectively.
She should get a clear run to the first turn on Saturday as she has box eight, and has Casari, a brillant beginner but good railer, alongside her in box seven.
And two of Summer Quinn's past three Wentworth Park victories have been from wide draws, boxes seven and six.
Jodie Lord has trained the two most recent Ladies Bracelet winners, She's A Pearl in 2023 and Midnight Spritz last year, and she holds a strong hand again this year.
Lord should win heat two on Saturday with Nangar Lady, chasing her 10th win in 16 Wentworth Park appearances, and will be hard to toss with her Golden Easter Egg finalist Taormina in box one in heat three.
Her daughter Hayley Gilbert could also figure in the Bracelet final as her model of consistency Sinaloa Girl opposes She's That Girl from box six in heat four.
If Saturday night's Ladbrokes Mates Mode Pots fifth grade was run at Gosford, his pet track, the Peter Lagogiane-trained Cool Junior would be a long odds-on favourite.
But Cool Junior, who has missed a place in each of four Wentworth Park outings, gets his chance to break through in town this week.
He has box one and his main danger, Zipping Marquez in box two, is usually a slow beginner.
Lagogiane concedes that Cool Junior has been disappointing at Wentworth Park, and said: "In post-to-post trials he has clocked 24.30 and then 24.13.
"They are pretty smart times, but a dog with his talent should be breaking 24 seconds.
"Saturday's race does look suitable for him though, as long as he can hold out Zipping Wheeler, who has early pace and has box five, and retain the lead at the first turn.''
Clearly safest bet on Saturday should be the Courtney Barnes-trained Zipping Ariel, who has box one in the NSW GBOTA Maiden Final.
