Greyhound racing enthusiast Johnny Fitzgerald had not owned a Wentworth Park winner until Sammy Ethan won on debut in May, 2023, but the Mark Gatt-trained dog will be seeking his 25th success at the track on Saturday night.
Sammy Ethan has had a love affair with Wentworth Park and contested 89 of his 91 races at the course, resulting in 24 wins, 21 seconds and 17 thirds for over $182,000.
He will exit box one in Saturday's seventh race, a 520m fourth and fifth grade, where his toughest rivals include kennelmate Wyndra All Heart, in box two.
Mark Gatt said: “Although I prefer Sammy Ethan from middle boxes because he seems to jump better from there, I consider both he and Wyndra All Heart pretty well positioned on Saturday.
"They are both going well and I can't separate them as far as their chances go.
"Johnny bought Sammy Ethan as a three months old puppy after he had asked me to find him a young dog.
"He had looked at a couple of pups which didn't impress me but when I saw a litter by Fernando Bale from Peter Lagogiane's good race bitch Vicki's Queen for sale I acted on his behalf.
"I told their breeder Dawn Garrett we wanted a male puppy and she said there were two to choose from so after she sent me their photos I selected the fawn dog which races as Sammy Ethan.”
Fear To Excel should only need to jump cleanly in Saturday's Wenty Leagues 520m fifth grade to "break her duck at Wentworth Park” according to trainer Allen Williams.
Fear To Excel has been runner-up in four of her six appearances at headquarters but nailed the start at her most recent appearance when she led all the way from box two at Gosford on May 26.
"Although I believe Fear To Excel appreciates being drawn wide she gets her chance to break her Wenty duck on Saturday,'' Williams said.
"When she finished second to Billy Ray's Girl at Wentworth Park on April 30 she was a bit 'crook' in the back when I got her home and I think she may have jarred herself as she jumped from the boxes.
"I kept her fresh for her last start at Gosford and it worked, she got the start right and easily beat a smart performer in Loco Storm.
"Saturday's race looks winnable although I have a healthy respect for Prince Legacy, who looks our main danger from box eight.”
Classic Ethics tends to create his own bad luck through his slow getaways but he was beaten through no fault of his own when edged out in a tight photo finish by Taw Major at Wentworth Park on May 2.
Classic Ethics, who has box four in Saturday night's Adopt a Greyhound Today top grade 520m event, had box five at his most recent appearance and was badly checked soon after the start.
A rival on his left veered wide and severely hampered Classic Ethics, who came from near the back of the field to clock a smart 29.62 while going under by a narrow margin.
Trainer Peter Rodgers said: "His last run was a massive effort and while he is no champion, Classic Ethics is a tough littler dog who gets to the line strongly.
"For him to win on Saturday he needs the three dogs on his left to come out and show speed.
"If that happens Classic Ethics will go to the rails and should be capable of rounding them up at the finish.”
Punters on Saturday should get off to a flying start courtesy of Zipping Violet, who looks the best bet of the night in the opening race, the We Stand With Tasmania 520m fifth grade.
With three wins at the track, Zipping Violet is the most successful Wentworth Park performer in the field and none of her rivals has come even close to her personal best 520m figures of 29.59.
She was a luckless third at her most recent Wentworth Park outing from box eight on May 23, and is drawn more suitably this week.
