Former Hot sHot Whittaker">Whittaker will attempt a first up win on his return to the track in heat four of the Ladbrokes NSW Sprint Championship (520m) on Saturday night.
The son of Mildean Panther and Mrs Trickett (pictured) jumps from box two in the last of four terrific heats (race eight) on Saturday night.
Whittaker enjoyed a super 2014 and had built a solid record of 11 wins and five minor placings from 22 starts.
A combination of an achilles tendon problem and illness have kept Whittaker sidelined for four-and-a-half months but trainer Julie Fletcher said he her greyhound is in good condition.
"He is as good as I can get him without race fitness," Fletcher said.
"Whittaker has been trialling well. At his most recent hit-out around the circle he clocked 29.62 at Dapto.
"Since then he has had two trials up the straight so he is ready to go, but going into a race of this calibre without match fitness is a big ask.
"I am pleased with his box two draw but having said that, I think he will need to beat Shady Ace, who has box one, to the first turn if he is going to win.
"Shady Ace is in great form and is very strong.''
Whittaker's Wentworth Park record stands at five wins from 11 appearances while Shady Ace's tally in town is five wins from 10 starts.
Knight Sprite has not started for a fortnight but is raring to go in heat one of the National Sprint.
Knight Sprite, who has scored five wins and seven placings from 17 Wentworth Park outings, has box three.
"I am not unhappy with that draw," trainer Gayle Masterson said.
"I deliberately gave him a couple of weeks away from the races to have him nice and fresh for this week's heats but he is very fit.
"He has done plenty of free galloping and went very well in a hit-out up the straight at my local Redhead trial track on Tuesday morning."
Another trainer who has adopted a 'freshening up' technique for the National Sprint heats is Brad Canty, whose dog No Donuts has box seven in heat three.
"He has a terrific draw but I have a healthy respect for Opus Forte, who has box four,'' Canty said.
"Topper Road, who has box three, goes fast early and rails well so chances are he will make the race for either Opus Forte or No Donuts.''
The National Distance Championship heats have been robbed of some interest with a toe injury to up-and-coming stayer More In Store forcing her out of the series.
Smooth Number, who surprised by running down Lithgow Panther in a Wentworth Park 720m race last week, is boxed to win again after drawing two in Saturday's first heat of the National Distance Championship.
"I'm so excited to have my first runner in a Nationals series,'' trainer Allen Hansen said.
"I bought Smooth Number for $2000 as a 12 months old puppy on Christmas Day 2013. I have been learning about training stayers as I have gone along with him.
"He chases so hard that he became dehydrated after he finished second to Bessy Boo on February 14 so I had to ease him up a bit as far as long distance races were concerned.
"I'm still a bit of a novice trainer but it seems to me you can't keep sending dogs over 720 metres week in and week out.
"So as last week's win over Lithgow Panther was only Smooth Number's second recent 720m race I think he can get fitter.
"Because he is such a good railer I'm very happy with his box two draw on Saturday night.''
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday tips:
Best Bet: Magic Earner (Race 4)
Best Value: Rio Rocket (Race 10)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 3, 5, 7
Race 6 - 3, 1, 8
Race 7 - 7, 4
Race 8 - 2, 1
$20 for 55.55%
