Fantastic Iris was in a tight three-way finish with Total Faith and Angelo, two of the current "form" veterans at Wentworth Park last Saturday, and should win after dropping sharply in grade there on Thursday night.
Fantastic Iris, who became a veteran in December, will exit box four in the Sponsor a Race @ Wenty third grade Masters event, after contesting a top grade race on Saturday.
From third to the home turn, Fantastic Iris finished fast along the rails to go down by a half-length to Total Faith, who notched his sixth Wentworth Park win.
A length away third was Angelo, who had previously won four races at headquarters.
Fantastic Iris is noted for her strength at the end of 520m and while she is a good railer and has drawn four, she has the advantage of having a vacant box in three.
And with Nordic Shiraz, who lacks early speed and runs in a direct line from the boxes, Fantastic Iris should get a clear run to the crucial first turn.
Canya Handle It and Natisa's Secret go into Thursday's Get Trackside 520m fifth grade with outstanding short course form at the provincials, but are both new to 520m.
Canya Handle It has won three 400m races at The Gardens recently, and posted a fast 22.38 there on December 20.
Joe McFadyen, trainer of Canya Handle It, said: "He is a very fast animal but it has been a slow burn getting him up to 520m.
"He is getting better and better and last week in a post-to-post slip at Wentworth Park Canya Handle It clocked a flying 23.84.
"He has not been tried over 520m but is a demon chaser, his flaw being that when he gets behind other dogs he doesn't have a lot of patience, he sometimes tries to run over the top of them.''
Natisa's Secret's trainer Darren Sultana is also unsure whether his bitch will run a strong 520m.
"She knows her way around Wentworth Park because she has had three slips around there and hasn't gone too badly,'' Sultana said.
"I named her after my daughters Natalia, who is 12, and eight-year-old Isabella, and they follow her career keenly.
"They come with me whenever I trial Natisa's Secret and are there for most of her races so it would be great if she could win for them.''
Hotshot Ethics has won only one race at Wentworth Park and while he is drawn in Thursday's Book Your Next Function top grade 520m event, trainer David Smith gives him a good chance.
"Although his only Wentworth Park win, in 29.77, was from box eight, he is better suited in box two on Thursday night,'' Smith said.
"He had no luck when fourth to Freight Express in a heat of the National Derby at Wentworth Park at his last start on January 24 when he got taken off the track, and is probably the fastest dog in my kennel.
"Hotshot Ethics has a good chance from this draw but O'Keefe, who has box one, is in great form, and my dog will need to beat him out of the boxes.''
Hotshot Ethics' main danger could be Summer Quinn, who has chased home top-notchers Jungle Johnny and Taormina in two recent Wentworth Park appearances.
