A minor injury has sidelined Ice Cream Story since she finished fifth to Wow a heat of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg on March 27 but the David Smith-trained bitch is ready to win first up at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Ice Cream Story has box four in heat three of the group 3 Ladies Bracelet and with a clean start should get a clear run courtesy of keen railer Notified, who has box three.
"Ice Cream Story seems to be back to her best,'' David Smith said.
"I trialled her over 340m at Bulli and she went well and then on Tuesday night I gave her a box-to-box trial at Wenty and was very happy with how she went.''
Smith holds a strong hand in the Bracelet with Super Estrella to exit box one in heat one.
Super Estrella (pictured) produced arguably the best performance of her career to overcome a slow start and interference to win in 29.89 at Wentworth Park last Saturday.
"She has won once in three starts from box one so can handle inside but it all depends on what the dogs drawn near her do early,'' Smith said.
"Super Estrella can only just break 5.50 for the first split and once she gets going she tends to want to get off the track a little.''
Vicki's Queen missed the start from box two when unplaced in the Golden Easter Egg final but looks a strong chance from box one in heat two of the Bracelet.
"Because she needs to begin smartly from box one I would prefer to see her drawn wide,'' trainer Peter Lagogiane said.
"But if Vicki's Queen gets fresh air and is close enough coming to the home turn we all know how strongly she can run home.
"I sent her to Melbourne last week for a trial at Sandown to prepare her for the Sapphire Crown heats there on May 13 and she went extra well in that gallop.
"Vicki's Queen was back in my kennels on Monday and is raring to go.''
Saturday night also features two heats of the group 3 Wentworth Park Gold Cup, with heat one by far the stronger.
In the first heat Australia's top stayer Stanley Road will be all the rage from box three, although up and coming youngsters My Margarita (box one) and Zipping Niseko (four) will keep him busy.
Victorian visitor Aston Ulysses, trained by Paul Abela, looks hard to beat in heat two.
"Aston Ulysses is perfectly drawn in box one and I am certain he will run out a solid 720m,'' Abela said.
"He has won in near record times over 590m at Sandown and 600m at The Meadows and has just had no luck in his past two races over 715m at Sandown.
"I sent him to Sydney trainer Peter Lagogiane to give him a hit-out at Wenty before the Cup heats and Aston Ulysses had a look at the track on Tuesday night.''
Former Sydney trainer Anthony Azzopardi, now among the top conditioners in Victoria, has How Not Too in box two in heat three of the Bracelet and Playlist (box four) and Aston Titan (box one) in heats one and two of the group 3 Bob Payne Sprint.
"Aston Titan is boxed beautifully in one but has struck probably the hardest heat,'' Azzopardi said.
"He trialled at Wenty last December and went extra well and what I like about this dog is that he is not afraid to push up in his races.
"Playlist beat Tommy Shelby in the group 1 Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park last July and while he does not have brilliant box speed he is a safe beginner who does his best work at the finish.
"Having a vacant box on his outside is a big plus.
"How Not Too is an enigma and is probably coming along for the ride, but she has a big motor.
"She is super strong so if she happened to find the front she is capable of running the fastest time of the night.''
