Reborn Hostility, who had two unsuccessful tests as a 720m Wentworth Park stayer late last year, looks set to continue her amazing transformation by winning Thursday night's top grade 520m Mark Hughes Foundation Stakes at headquarters.
Since mid-April Reborn Hostility has registered six wins and five placings from a dozen WP 520m appearances, all the more remarkable because of her racing style.
Now trained by Daniel Gatt, Reborn Hostility is nearly always last approaching the first turn, but her clever way of weaving through the field before unleashing her powerful finish puts her into Thursday's race with the fastest WP 520m time of 29.30.
Before last Thursday's win, trainer Daniel Gatt said: "Greyhounds which race the way she does usually need a lot of luck but Reborn Hostility seems to make her own luck.
"But she has been helped by being drawn in a succession of smaller than normal fields.''
Reborn Hostility has only five rivals again this week, with Canya Sapphire, who made the pace when runner-up to her last Thursday, and 10-time WP winner Wyndra All Heart, trained by Gatt's brother Mark, looking her toughest opponents.
Lucky Biscuit, an impressive winner in fast times at his past two starts over 472m at Bulli, makes his WP debut in Thursday's Wenty Leagues Stakes 520m fifth grade.
Lucky Biscuit had boxes seven and four in his 26.19 and 26.16 victories at Bulli this month, but trainer Mark Farrugia is happy with his box two draw on Thursday.
"At Bulli he has been able to handle both inside and outside boxes so I'm banking on him getting away cleanly and holding the rail,'' Farrugia said.
"I gave Lucky Biscuit a post-to-post slip at WP last Saturday and he clocked 24.20, which is not spectacular but quick enough.
"Although he hasn't been tested over 520m I'm pretty sure he will run it out okay.''
Trainer Ashley Dwyer has two runners in Thursday's WP Encouragement 520m fifth grade and nominates Zipping Chicago (box four) his better prospect ahead of that dog's litter brother Zipping Downey (box two).
Dwyer said: "Zipping Downey is a very slow beginner so shouldn't trouble Zipping Chicago early.
"Zipping Chicago is the only dog in this race to have broken 30sec at WP so I'm expecting him to jump in front and lead all the way.
"It certainly seems an easier race than what he has been facing in his past few starts at Nowra and WP.''
Trainer David Smith qualified with seven of the eight starters in Thursday's Gosford to WP final but two of his qualifiers, Mystical Ethics (box two) and Rugged Ethics (box eight) will be scratched.
Smith said: "Of my five Radiant Ethics, who won from box two at WP last Saturday, has the best draw becaise she has box one.
"Although 520m is as far as she wants to go she could lead all the way if she nails the start.
"Happy Ethics, who has box six, is going well and has plenty of ability while Kung Fu Ethics, who has box three, would be better drawn wide and Swift Wind, who has box four, is always slow out of the boxes.''
Jodie Lord's Sin City Bandit, a daughter of her former top class stayer Just Terms, has won her past three WP 720m assignments but faces stiff opposition from a kennelmate in Thursday's Sponsor A Race long distance fifth grade.
Stilton Shine, who has had five wins and six placings from 19 WP 520m tests, is tackling 720m for the first time but has always displayed stamina.
Stilton Shine boasts a personal best WP 520m time of 29.55 and on those figures should have no trouble being the pacemaker and setting up a massive early lead on Thursday night.
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