This year's Group 1 Association Cup winner Stanley Road looks certain to get the chance to add the Sydney Cup to his collection by winning tonight's opening heat of the 720m group 2 race at Wentworth Park.
Stanley Road has drawn ideally in box two with a vacant box on his outside and the likelihood of Ice Cream Story in box one clearing him and setting the early pace.
"In Your Time, the greyhound in box one, really gave it to him by running wide,'' Stanley Road's trainer Mark Gatt said.
"Before the race I had been concerned that might happen because In Your Time is a wide runner and I wanted Stanley Road to come out in front of or behind her but they jumped together and collided.''
Super Estrella won first-up over 720m at Wentworth Park on Saturday but faded in the run home and will need to go much quicker than the 42.33 she posted on Saturday to hold Stanley Road out in the straight.
Stanley Road's personal best at Wentworth Park is 41.92 and he clocked 42.10 winning the Association Cup.
Zipping Niseko, winner of this year's 720m Wentworth Park Gold Cup final, returns to long distance racing at headquarters when she meets Ice Cream Story's David Smith-trained kennelmate Super Estrella in heat three of the Sydney Cup tonight.
Zipping Niseko returned from a lengthy break to win over 520m at Dapto on September 18, clocking a blistering 29.82.
"Since that race Zipping Niseko has had a couple of 600m trials and has gone extra well,'' trainer Jason Magri said.
"I just hope those hit-outs are sufficient for her to be able to run a strong 720m in the Cup heat.
"She has a nice draw in box two but I doubt she can be in front early as Super Estrella, who made the pace when second to Miss Ezmae at her first Wentworth Park 720m test on September 29, is likely to be the leader.
"I am banking on Zipping Niseko getting a clear sit in second place behind Super Estrella in the early stages.''
Triple track record holder Miss Ezmae gave Super Estrella a start and a beating winning from box seven at her first Wentworth Park 720m appearance on September 29 and looks a safe bet from the same draw in heat two, weakest of the Cup qualifying races.
First and second, along with the two fastest heat thirds, will contest the Sydney Cup final on Saturday week.
Good Odds Harada, who led all the way to win over 520m at Wentworth Park in 30.34 on Saturday, has box five in heat one while Sunburnt Highway, who defeated him at Dapto on September 4, has box one in heat two.
Good Odds Harada set up a big early lead on Saturday but just lasted to defeat Zipping Brady, one of his rivals tonight, by a half head.
Trainer Frank Hurst said: "Good Odds Harada simply ran out of petrol on Saturday because he was having his first start in a month.''
Sunburnt Highway, who is chasing his 30th Wentworth Park 520m win tonight, finished third over 520m at Dapto at his most recent start on September 23.
His trainer Judith Richardson said: "We are reasonably confident Billy (Sunburnt Highway) will win but can't be sure because he at five years and two months he is by far the oldest in the field.
"My husband John and I keep wondering whether we should retire Billy but whenever we start considering it the dog grabs his bedding and starts tearing around the yard with it in his mouth, bouncing all over the place.
"He just loves to run so I guess he will tell us when he has had enough.''
Judith Richardson is not a fan of box one at Wentworth Park but Sunburnt Highway has won 10 of 19 races wearing the red rug.
