Paw Dimetra ran the race of her life when third from box eight in the Group One Farrell's Association Cup final at Wentworth Park on April 12 and is drawn to land her first win at headquarters on Saturday night.
The Jake White-trained Paw Dimetra has box one in the 720m Ladbrokes Same Race Multi stakes, after chasing home final winner Apilla from the same draw in an Association Cup heat.
Paw Dimetra had box eight in the final, but after beginning smartly she was veered sharply towards the rails and met severe interference before holding on to finish a distant third to Apilla.
Trainer Jake White is understandably delighted to see his bitch in box one on Saturday night, commenting: "She is desperate for that draw.''
White added: "Her owner Mark Latham bought her after she had won three small races in Victoria, hoping he might have acquired a plodding stayer.
"But Paw Dimetra has turned out a fair bit better than that.
"Because she is a stayer, Paw Dimetra has been nominated three or four times recently without getting a draw, so I'm pleased she has gained a start at Wenty and has got box one as well.''
The best graded dog at Wentworth Park on Saturday night would have to be Deadly Class, which has won 19 races and recorded a sizzling 29.38 at headquarters.
Deadly Class resumes after a spell in box one in the 520m fifth grade Mark Hughes Foundation Stakes.
The Mark Gatt-trained veteran has box one and boasts a phenomenal record wearing the red rug, with seven wins and three placings from 10 appearances.
However, Deadly Class has not raced for over three months, and while Gatt said he is "going well," he added "he is not quite up to reproducing the flying 29.38 he posted at Wentworth Park last November.''
Gatt said: "Deadly Class is going well, but he is not quite as good as he was previously - after all, he turns five next month.
"He has been sidelined with a dropped pin muscle, but getting box one is a big help.''
Gatt considers Blue Goose Boy, a dog he formerly trained, will be hard to beat.
"Blue Goose Boy has drawn the wrong side of the track in box seven, but he is going well and will take some beating.''
Tyler Fly High, a notoriously slow beginner who is well-positioned in box two, could also be a tough opponent for Deadly Class.
The Peter Rodgers-trained dog has rattled home from the same draw to be placed at his two latest Wentworth Park appearances.
Trunkey Chief staged a remarkable performance to come from last to beat all but Kangaroo Jack in last Saturday night's Group Three Bob Payne Sprint final at Wentworth Park and he moves from box eight in that event to box one in this week's 520m Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Stakes.
Trunkey Chief gave the leaders a massive start in the middle stages last Saturday but trainer Tony Godden has not been carried away by his dog's performance.
"The field did pack up ahead of Trunkey Chief last Saturday which made his run look better than it was,'' a candid Godden said.
"But it was still a good effort because he had box eight, and he is a lot better suited from box one this Saturday night.
"Trunkey Chief just needs to jump cleanly and hold the fence in the run to the first turn.
"Talk About It, who has box three, clocked 29.58 winning at Wentworth Park last week so is going to be awfully hard to toss.
"But Ferrero Girl, in box two, made the pace when third to She's That Girl in last Saturday's Ladies Bracelet final so I'm hoping she can show the same early zip this week and give Trunkey Chief a good 'cart' into the first corner.''
None of Epic Story's rivals in Saturday's Ladbrokes Mates Mode Pots Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, have been able to match his best Wentworth Park time of 29.78.
Those figures were posted in February but Epic Story's all-the-way win over 400m at Maitland on Monday night suggests he is going equally well now.
At Maitland Epic Story began brilliantly from box five - the draw he has on Saturday night - and won in a sizzling 22.26sec.
Epic Story should get a clear run to the first bend as Casari, who has box four, is one of the most reliable beginners in training and is a keen railer.
