Heats of the time honoured Sydney Cup are a week away but Tonight's 720m Free For All is virtually a dress rehearsal for the big event.
Australia's number one stayer Stanley Road will line up against Queensland's top long distance performer Maggie Moo Moo and the exciting pair of up-and-coming NSW performers Super Estrella and Miss Ezmae.
Stanley Road has won five of his eight starts from boxes one and two and has won five of 10 Wentworth Park 720m appearances.
Maggie Moo Moo has been placed in just one of three long distance assignments at headquarters while Super Estrella and Miss Ezmae have been in flawless form at the provincials but have not tackled the Wentworth Park 720m trip.
"Stanley Road is going great and he loves being boxed near the fence,'' trainer Mark Gatt said.
"My only concern is the presence of In Your Time in box one because she tends to get up the track.
"So I want Stanley Road to jump in front or behind her so he gets a chance to secure a trouble free run to the first turn.''
Wentworth Park's most successful trainer Jodie Lord has eight starters in seven races Tonight.
Lord has Bandit Belle in box two in race one, Cawbourne Turvey (box four) and Ritza Joey (seven) in race two, One Smart One (box six, race three), Cruiser Model (box eight, race four), Winlock On Top and Picture Frame in boxes one and two in race six, and Powder Finger exiting box one in race seven.
While Bandit Belle is a litter sister to Lord's Wentworth Park Magic Maiden winner Bandit Ned, a winner of 12 from 15 races, she has raced just once, winning by five lengths in a slick 20.72 over 365m at Nowra.
"Although Bandit Belle is stepping up in distance I am confident she will run the 520m out strongly and am happy seeing her in box two as she is a good railer,'' Lord said.
"Because Ritza Joey has not seen the track he might be hard pressed beating his kennelmate Cawbourne Turvey who is nice and fresh.
"Cawbourne Turvey has drawn four but has an empty box on his outside and he is a strong finisher so if he gets clear air he should be hard to toss.
"One Smart One has won twice at Wentworth Park where he has clocked 30.01 and he is going as well now, if not better, than when he last raced there.
"Cruiser Model has had a win and four placings from six races at Wentworth Park and she has not raced for 10 days which will suit her.
"She goes well when she is fresh and I think she can lead all the way.
"Winlock On Top should go close to winning although I have a good opinion of Royal Emgrand, who has box seven in his race.
"Powder Finger is a promising young dog who knows his way around Wenty and he is well positioned in box one.''
Tonight's safest bet should be the unbeaten Lincoln Valley, who has box one in the final event, the Let's Do This NSW, a 280m fifth grade.
Trained by Dave Irwin, Lincoln Valley took his record to four wins from as many starts with a record-breaking performance over 300m at Casino on September 16.
Lincoln Valley stopped the clock at 16.61, .01sec inside the previous time standard posted by Ruby's Legacy in January this year.
Lincoln Valley exited box two in his record breaking performance but won each of his first two starts, over 400m at LADBROKES GARDENS, after jumping from box one.
The dog's record figures were particularly meritorious as Lincoln Valley "bombed'' the start and after having only one rival behind him on settling down, exploded along the rails to lead at the first turn before coming away for an easy win.
Mick Clayton trains five of Lincoln Valley's six rivals but doubts he can upset the favourite.
"Lincoln Valley looks like getting a good run because my dogs Getaway Man and Hilly's Howler, in boxes two and three, are not fast beginners,'' Clayton.
"Another of my starters, Mint Condition, is a lid pinger but she is out in box seven.''
