Without A Trace's trainer Peter Presutto may have had no luck in the Country Classic, but has a great chance of winning the first semi-final of the Wheeler Kennels Golden Easter Egg with Off The Chart (pictured), who has so much dazzling early pace he can overcome box five.
"He had not seen Wenty before last week's heats so I was rapt Off The Chart was able to lead all the way in his heat,'' Presutto said.
"My only concern this week is the presence of Secret Bandit in box seven, because she seems to be a lid-pinger who wants to move left in the run to the first turn.''
Off The Chart's sectional times last week were 5.40 before astonishing figures of 13.55 and 17.59, so it was no surprise he tired in the straight to beat Taw Galaxy by a head.
Off The Chart's toughest rival on Saturday looms as Gold Force, who flashed home to be beaten by the Victorian in a tight finish in the 450m Shepparton Cup on March 21 and who is ideally positioned in box eight this week after winning his heat last week from box 3.
Fastest Easter Egg heat winner Slick Splits has box seven in the second semi, opposed to fellow Victorian, Cleo's Star, a bold front runner perfectly drawn in one.
Nowra trainer Steve Fitch has Cumbria Chrissy and Eriza Sparkles in boxes two and three in the third semi and while Eriza Sparkles has the better record, he gives her kennelmate an equally strong chance.
"Cumbria Chrissy opened up at $19 for Saturday night which surprised me, because she is well drawn and I thought her third behind Off The Chart and Taw Galaxy in her Easter Egg heat was a terrific run,'' Fitch sad.
Pre-post Egg final favourite Cumbria Jack has box six in the fourth semi-final but Steve Fitch, his trainer, is not worried.
The great Miata became the first WA-trained greyhound to win the Association Cup with her race record breaking performance in 2012 and her trainer Paul Stuart believes Urbanity can earn a crack at a second success by taking out Saturday night's first heat of the group one 720m event at Wentworth Park.
At her Wentworth Park 720m debut last Saturday, Urbanity set up a huge early lead but compounded in the straight and finished fourth, two lengths behind the Victorian group one winner Mepunga Lara.
Urbanity, who has box seven this week, has drawn by far the weaker of the two Cup heats and Stuart, who guided Miata to 42 wins from 51 starts and over $715,000, believes his greyhound will be much stronger this week.
"In WA Urbanity usually jumps slowly and rockets home so when she jumped in front last week I reckon she gassed herself out by going so hard early,'' he said.
"Urbanity is a fast bitch and will be all the better for last week's run.''
Leading Sydney trainer Minnie Finn, who is looking after Urbanity's Association Cup campaign, said: "She had only had a box-to-box trial at Wenty before last Saturday's 720m race.''
Saturday's second heat two features Mepunga Lara, fellow Victorians Without A Trace and Fade To Black, and local hero Magpie Hector.
Fade To Black, who broke the 710m record at The Q with his win over Without A Trace and Magpie Hector in the Group One Gerrard's Gold Cup on February 5, has not raced since finishing last at The Meadows 23 days later.
But there were excuses for that failure.
Victorian trainer Dave Knocker, whose daughter Kayla Cottrell prepares Fade To Black, said: "After the race at The Meadows Kayla discovered Fade To Black had contracted a viral infection but that is all cleared up now.
"Kayla has since taken Fade To Black to Wentworth Park for a look at the track and he trialled brilliantly, so he is ready to go on Saturday night.''
Without A Trace, fastest qualifier for last Saturday's Dubbo Country Classic, had no luck when fourth in the final but will be right for heat two of the Wests Group Macarthur Association Cup.
"She pulled up okay after Dubbo last Saturday and will relish being back at Wentworth Park, she loves the joint,'' said trainer Peter Presutto.
Mepunga Lara had not previously seen Wentworth Park when she led throughout over 720m last Saturday while Magpie Hector has won two of three 720m races at headquarters, with his trainer Jack Smith winning the 2024 Association Cup final with Palawa King.
