Horchata, runner-up in a heat of the Ladbrokes National Derby at his Wentworth Park debut, can enhance his record to an imposing eight wins and three seconds from a dozen starts if he wins at headquarters on Wednesday night.
The Nowra 365m record holder has box four in race seven, a 520m fifth grade, representing a massive drop in class from his initial Wenty assignment.
The Glen Goodwin-trained Horchata smashed the Nowra 365m record with an unheard of 365m victory in 20.09 on December 20 and chased home Pristine Image in his Derby heat over 520m on January 14.
"I thought he ran a creditable race in the Derby,'' Goodwin said.
"Before then Horchata's only trials at Wentworth Park had been a post-to-post and a box-to-box hit-out and and because he was second reserve for the Derby final last Saturday I have since had to prepare him with the possibility of him getting a start in that race.
"So he had a trial at Appin but then missed a second gallop there when the trials were cancelled.
"He has since had a slip up the straight but on Wednesday it will be 12 days since Horchata has been behind the lure.
"That should not worry him and if he gets away cleanly from box four he should only need to run up to his performance in the Derby heat to be hard to beat.''
Horchata drew box eight in his Derby heat and after being third at the first turn, was in second place entering the back straight before being beaten just under four lengths by Pristine Image, who led throughout in 29.91.
But in that race Horchata finished ahead of Tarawi Ted, Two Moves Ahead and Cumbria Days, who between them have won six races at Wenty.
"Staying calm" is the key to Half A Blonde's prospects in race 10 at Wentworth Park on Wednesday, a 520m fifth grade, according to trainer David Robertson.
Half A Blonde (pictured) had box two when unplaced at her Wentworth Park debut last Wednesday but she uses a bit of the track so is better positioned in box eight this week.
"She usually jumps well but last week she got checked a couple of times and that was the end of her,'' trainer David Robertson said.
"Because she had not seen Wentworth Park before last Wednesday's race Half A Blonde should be improved by the run.
"She has missed a run at Appin when the trials were cancelled but I don't think that will be a factor because she goes well fresh.
"When Half A Blonde won her maiden at Dapto in 30.19 on December 30, she was having her first race for nine days.
"Half A Blonde's problem is she is very excitable and when she gets to the track is really 'hypo' so I would have preferred her in an early race rather than the 10th event on the card.
"But if she keeps calm in the kennels she is in with a good show.''
Best bet on Wednesday should be Tiger Jack, well placed near the rails in box three in race 11, a 520m fifth grade.
The JODIE Lord-trained youngster clocked a brilliant 29.86 winning on debut at Wentworth Park on January 5, when he drew box one and made full use of his inside alley, railing to the lead leaving the back straight.
Those figures were the fastest time of the night, even surpassing the 29.99 recorded by 2021 National Futurity winner Zipping Sapporo on the same card.
At his only subsequent Wentworth Park start, a week later, Tiger Jack drew awkwardly in box eight and after missing the jump showed good speed only to be skittled at the first turn before being unplaced.
