Lady Wilson (pictured) Firethorn and Goldmine Fire are three of the top local candidates for next month's National Distance Championship so Saturday's Ladbrokes Blackbook Stakes is virtually a dress rehearsal for the NSW final at Wentworth Park on August 14.
The Sam Sultana-trained Lady Wilson has box eight in Saturday's top grade 720m event while Firethorn and her litter brother Goldmine Fire have drawn one and two for their trainer Mark Moroney.
Lady Wilson was a luckless second, from box eight, at her sole Wentworth Park 720m outing, and has drawn poorly again.
But she has been in slashing form interstate and finished strongly to win over 600m at Ladbrokes Gardens at her most recent appearance, last Saturday night.
Goldmine Fire defeated Firethorn in the Westlawn Finance Stayers Cup over 660m at Grafton on July 16, and while they have not raced at Wentworth Park, trainer Mark Moroney trialed them over 720m there on Monday night.
"Firethorn clocked 42.12 and Goldmine Fire recorded 42.30, so I was very happy with those times,'' Moroney said.
"Before the trial I intended being satisfied if they ran 42.50 so those figures were a bonus.
"I was slightly doubtful whether Goldmine Fire would see out a strong 720m so his time was especially pleasing.
"Firethorn might have the edge on her litter brother on Saturday night because Goldmine Fire is likely to stay away from the rails so he might run cover for his sister.
"Even though they are backing up after a five day turnaround they both looked pretty good on Tuesday morning.
"And they are both very fit, they have been doing a lot of recent racing over 660m at Grafton and 710m at The Q Parklands.
"On times up at The Q there is not much between my pair and Lady Wilson so whichever greyhound gets the breaks on Saturday night will probably win.''
Saint Omagh is unbeaten in two starts from box eight so it's no wonder trainer Denice Warren is happy with her dog's outside draw in Saturday night's Ladbrokes Odds Surge Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Saint Omagh was beaten eight lengths into fifth place in a top grade 520m event at Wentworth Park on July 17, so drops in class on Saturday.
And Warren was far from disappointed with Saint Omagh's unplaced run behind Both Bowers Ace last time out.
"My dog had box four and some of those drawn out wide just crashed towards the rails when the lids went up,'' Denice Warren said.
Saint Omagh
"When that happened Saint Omagh was pole-axed and went down on his nose so I was happy with his performance.
"I haven't trialled him since, just worked him along at home they way I always do, so he is ready to go.''
Saint Omagh relishes an outside trap as apart from winning each of his two races while wearing the pink rug, his record from box seven is two wins from three attempts.
Best bet on Saturday should be Massaro, who has box one in the 520m Ladbrokes Same Race Multi fifth grade.
Trainer Michelle Sultana thought highly enough of Massaro to start him in a heat of the Group One Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park on June 28.
Massaro drew box five but after being fourth going into the first turn, he was checked and then bumped again going through the catching pen, losing all chance.
Massaro had won each of his previous four races and in the Classic heat was a well supported $3.20 second elect behind the winner, warm favourite Destroying, who had the advantage of box one.
Sultana could be in for a successful night as she could also take out Saturday's opening event, the 520m fifth grade NSW GBOTA Welcome Stakes, with My Picasso.
This greyhound won on debut at Wentworth Park in 29.75 before finishing second there on July 3, and then was far from disgraced when run down by noted powerhouse finisher Magpie Hector at headquarters on July 17.
My Picasso tends to run in the centre of the track so providing he begins as well as he normally does, he should not be disadvantaged by drawing box four.
Foreign Capital was a certainty beaten when second, from box eight, to False Witness at Wentworth Park on July 12, and the Vic Sultana-trained dog should relish his shift to box one in Saturday night's True Colours Dog Food Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Foreign Capital has won three of his four races wearing the red rug and his best Wentworth Park time, 29.37, suggests he has the proverbial minute on his rivals this week.
