Rained had no luck when beaten a half-head at Wentworth Park last Friday and a career best trial at the track on Tuesday night makes the Peter McCann-trained dog this Friday’s star bet.
Rained has box one in race 10 and although he is a slow beginner he should be much too good for his rivals.
"I gave him a post-to-post hand-slip at Wenty on Tuesday night and he clocked 24.30, which is flying," McCann said.
"It is certainly the fastest he has ever gone and he is ideally drawn this week.
"I think if Rained had not been baulked when making his run leaving the back straight he probably would have won last week.
"But of course with dogs like Rained, which come out slowly, there is always a risk of that happening.
"If he wins on Friday I’ll nominate him for Wentworth Park on the following Saturday night and then I’ll probably step him up to a middle distance."
Father Skeeta should only need a clear run from box five to open his Wentworth Park account in race nine.
Trained by his breeder Les Dennis, at Lidsdale, near Lithgow, Father Skeeta rattled home to be beaten a half-length at his Wentworth Park debut last Friday night.
"He went very quick in a post-to-post hand-slip at Wentworth Park before that so I expected him to run well," Dennis said.
Last week Father Skeeta was fourth in the middle stages before sweeping around two of his rivals, just failing to catch the winner, Here’s Skeeta, who had posted sizzling sectional times.
Father Skeeta races in the centre of the track so providing he begins as smartly as he usually does, box five is a reasonably good draw.
Pride Of Egypt, who has been rejuvenated since having his tonsils removed, should finally break through for his first 720m win at Wentworth Park in race three.
When Pride Of Egypt faded over the concluding stages to finish sixth to Lucy Wires in the Bohemia Crystal Sydney Cup at Wentworth Park on October 12 trainer Dawn Garrett found the dog gasping for air.
Diagnosis was that a tonsillectomy was needed and since that operation Pride Of Egypt has won four races.
He came from last to post a scorching 29.97 over the unsuitable 520m trip on November 29 and at his most recent outing won over 600m at Gosford on January 7 in 35.05, not far outside the long-standing track record of 34.61 held by Awesome Luck.
Friday’s small field will suit Pride Of Egypt as the dog tends to get back in the early stages of his races.
A drop from Paws Of Thunder and Woy Woy Gold Cup class to a 3/4 grade should return veteran Ritza Ryder (pictured, blue rug) to the winning list in race eight.
Ritza Ryder was far from disgraced when third to fastest qualifier Veyron Bale in last Saturday night’s Paws Of Thunder heats and will relish the drop in class on Friday.
The dog has not only won nine races at Wentworth Park but has drawn box two, unquestionably his favourite draw.
The Mark Gatt-trained dog has won five of his eight starts from the two alley.
Best Bet: Rained (Race 10)
Best Value: Open Fire (Race 6)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 4, 2
Race 6 – 1, 7, 8
Race 7 – 1, 7, 3
Race 8 – 2, 1
$20 for 55.55%
