Bandit Ned set a new race record when he won the Group One Vic Peters Classic for Jodie and Andy Lord in 2021, and they look set a secure a 2025 finalist with Destroying coming up with box one in heat two of the time honoured race on Saturday night.
Bandit Ned's 29.47 at Wentworth Park was the time standard for the Classic, until Zipping Remus won in 29.33 two years later. However, Destroying looks to have the credentials to give the Lords another tilt at the $75,000 to the winner final.
Destroying's seven Wentworth Park appearances have resulted in five wins and two placings, and the dog proved he retained his Sydney form by winning a heat of the group one Flying Amy Classic in Brisbane on June 1.
Trainer Jodie Lord's husband Andy said: "He has come back from Queensland in great shape.
"We gave Destroying a 440m trial at Goulburn on Tuesday and he clocked 24.50, time we were very happy with.
"If Destroying has a fault it is that he tends to be a bit 'over the top' because he is so keen to race.''
Destroying is unbeaten in two starts wearing the red rug, clocking fast times of 29.58 and 29.68 over 520m at WP.
His main danger looks to be Massaro, who is trained by Michelle Sultana and Darryl Thomas, winners of last year's Vic Peters Classic with Rinsed The Lot.
Massaro is undefeated in four races over 324m to 450m at Richmond, Bulli and Maitland, and Thomas is confident the dog will run a big race on Saturday night.
"On his trial times at Wentworth Park, I think Massaro will be very competitive in the Vic Peters,'' Thomas said.
"Put it this way, I would not swap him for any other dog in the series.''
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Massaro will exit box five, with Magic Maiden winner Taw Galaxy ideally placed in box eight and the up-and-coming prospect Magpie Hector nicely positioned in seven.
Peter Lagogiane, who trained last Saturday's Grafton Thunderbolt winner Badger's Beast, also has one of the main chances in Saturday night's heats of the group one Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Opal.
He will rug up Summer Quinn, positioned in box one in heat three.
Summer Quinn has had four wins and three placings from eight appearances at headquarters, and none of her rivals on Saturday has been able to match her quickest Wentworth Park figures of 29.49.
Lagogiane believes Summer Quinn has an ideal draw.
"Summer Quinn had a win and second from her past three starts in Brisbane and has returned in beautiful condition."
"She trialled well at Wentworth Park on Monday and should be awfully hard to beat from box one.''
Summer Quinn has worn the red rug just once, overcoming a moderate getaway and charging home from third on the back straight to win at Wentworth Park in 30.02.
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Canya Not, a winner of five from seven starts at The Gardens and Gosford, makes her Wentworth Park debut in heat one of the Peter Mosman Opal.
She came from box one to win at her latest outing, over 515m at The Gardens on June 14, but trainer Joe McFadyen is happy with her box seven draw on Saturday night.
"Canya Not uses a bit of the track so under normal circumstances she would be well suited in box seven,'' McFadyen said.
"My concern is that Canya Sapphire, who has box eight, is usually a brilliant beginner so she could crowd my bitch in the run to the first turn."
"But Canya Not is just 22 months old so has been winning her races through pure, raw ability."
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"She has it all ahead of her and with a clear run I think she can clock around 29.80 on Saturday night."
"Her future though is especially bright, because at this stage I think she is only 85 per cent as good as what she can eventually become.''
Victorian trainer Ken Bailey is devastated as he will have to scratch his Peter Mosman entry, Select Airley from heat three, along with Select Kyron, his nomination for heat one of the Vic Peters Classic.
"These two youngsters, as well as Nangar Jim, who I had in a fourth and fifth grade on Saturday night, have come down with kennel cough,'' a dejected Bailey said.
