Fantastic Radley is a dyed-in-the-wool stayer who will relish having just five opponents in by far the weaker of the two 720m fifth grades at Wentworth Park tonight.
Fantastic Radley came from a long way back to win at his first Wentworth Park 720m test in a handy 42.42 on December 23 before rattling home again when second, beaten two lengths, by Run Goldie Run in 42.71 last Wednesday.
Trainer Michelle Fletcher was not tempted to nominate Fantastic Radley for last Saturday night's heats of the group 2 Summer Distance Plate, instead saving his promising two-year-old for tonight's Where Else But Wenty Stakes, a far easier low grade event.
Because he gets back in his races, Fantastic Radley can be hard pressed threading his way through an eight dog field but with only five opponents tonight should have no trouble putting himself in a winning position on the back straight.
None of Fantastic Radley's rivals have been able to match his best Wentworth Park time of 42.42, which was posted from box seven, the same draw he has tonight.
And although Fantastic Radley recorded 42.86 when finishing second, beaten two lengths last week, he would have wound up closer to the winner had he not got onto the heels of an opponent with a lap to go.
Also down in class tonight is Fabian's Gold, who has box three in the fifth grade Ladbrokes Switch Stakes, 520m.
The Michael Galea-trained dog was an impressive 30.14 maiden winner from box five at Wentworth Park on January 6 before finishing sixth, after drawing eight, in SERIOUS Object's Ladbrokes National Derby heat last Friday.
"He didn't go too bad in his Derby heat and if he had drawn an inside box in that race I'm certain he would have gone a lot better,'' Galea said.
"Fabian's Gold is nicely positioned close to the fence in box three and if he comes out on terms with his rivals I expect him to run a big race.''
Aston Reward, who was sent out a $1.90 favourite when second to Murdoch Keeping in a fifth grade at Wentworth Park last Wednesday, looks Fabian's Gold's toughest opponent.
Aston Reward missed the jump from box eight last week and was keen to rail so looks ideally placed in box one tonight.
Leading Victorian trainer Jeff Britton and his partner Angela Langton are tipped to notch the quinella in tonight's ninth event, the 520m Ladbrokes Cash In Stakes.
Britton has Welbec Pearl in box five while Langton's dog Jepara has drawn eight.
"Jepara got cluttered up when he was up near the lead in a heat of the National Derby last Friday but even though he still finished third, beaten four lengths, I thought he was a fraction disappointing,'' the dog's caretaker Sydney trainer Alan Proctor said.
"But there is no doubt he has ability and if they leave him alone in the early stages he should go well, because on his night he can really run.''
Jeff Britton commented: "On their best Melbourne form Jepara is slightly faster than Weblec Pearl but she went super at her first Wenty start when she made the pace and only got caught in the last couple of strides.
"Weblec Pearl clocked 29.84 getting beaten that night and that time surprised me.''
Jepara won a 520m trial at Wentworth Park in 30.06 on January 9, giving a start and a beating to Westar Aileen, who has won over 515m at Sandown in a nippy 29.50.
In that trial Jepara charged to the centre of the track when he swept around Westar Aileen on the back straight, so looks well placed tonight in box eight.
