Fire On Ice was a desperately unlucky fourth in last month's Group 1 Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Opal final and a scorching trial at Gosford on Friday has trainer Mark Moroney believing she can take out Wednesday night's Free For All at Wentworth Park.
Fire On Ice has drawn box five but Moroney believes she only needs to begin cleanly to be a strong chance of leading all the way.
"In the Peter Mosman she missed the jump and then got checked immediately,'' Moroney said.
"After that, everywhere Fire On Ice went she found trouble and she pulled up with a sore pin muscle.
"But she is back to her best and is going as good as, if not better, than ever.
"I trialled her over 515m at Gosford on Friday and Fire On Ice broke the first split sectional record, clocking 4.24, before covering the full trip in a very quick 29.27.''
Fire On Ice had won her Peter Mosman heat in her personal best Wentworth Park time of 29.77 before finishing fourth in Lilly Banner's 29.75 final and Moroney expects her to get down to 29.70 with a good getaway on Wednesday.
Robbie Knows was run down by none other than the mighty Blue Moon Rising in a 520m Masters race at Wentworth Park on July 25 and trainer Chris Kedwell believes the dog is capable of going "a bit better'' in Wednesday night's 520m Ladbrokes Odds Boost Masters Stakes.
"Robbie Knows had a couple of races at Wenty earlier in his career but had not been there for a long while when he raced against Blue Moon Rising,'' Kedwell said.
"He went straight to the front but seemed lost going through the first turn and lifted his head up, then on the home turn he again seemed to be feeling his way around.
"Of course when a dog as strong as Blue Moon Rising was sitting behind him on the bend Robbie Knows was never going to win, but I think having that look at Wenty under his belt will make him go a bit better this week.''
Big Skinny was beaten just under eight lengths when third to kennelmate Good Juan in a flying 41.96 over 720m at Wentworth Park last Saturday but tackles much easier opposition in Wednesday's Where Else But Wenty Stakes over the same trip.
"Big Skinny has box three and from that good draw I believe she is capable of being in front around the first turn,'' trainer Harry Sarkis said.
"If she can make the pace in this type of race I reckon she will lead all the way.''
At GosfordStar Hotel missed the jump but showed dazzling pace to lead clearly at the first turn, but after leading approaching the home bend he dropped out when Vamos Penny sailed past him.
"I didn't want to bump into Vamos Penny again because while my dog has good early pace, he is a bit ordinary at the finish and that is where she is very strong,'' trainer Peter Tobin said.
"But before the Gosford race there was one of Star Hotel's kennelmates was on season and I think that stressed him out quite a lot.
"I'm not making excuses but I think he will go better this time, although he has never seen Wenty in a race or a trial.''
