Neville's Eyes On Christmas Gift Prize

VICTORY in the Christmas Gift Final at Wentworth Park would mean a lot to trainer Neville Brown if his talented pup Eyes To Eyes can win.

Exciting youngster Eyes To Eyes is quickly making a name for himself in the Sydney sprinting ranks and he'll be chasing the biggest win in his career on Saturday night.

The Neville Brown-trained chaser has drawn box eight in the $25,000-to-the-winner Christmas Gift Final over 520m at Wentworth Park.

Eyes To Eyes is one of the most improved greyhounds in NSW.

The 25-month-old son of Orson Allen won six of his first 19 starts but since October he's won five his eight races and running 29.54 and 29.64 at Wentworth Park.

FIELDS AND FORM FOR WENTWORTH PARK ON SATURDAY NIGHT

"When he started off, I realised he was a nice dog, but I also realised he was immature and couldn't cope with the work if I stuck it too him," Brown said.

Zipping Caleb and Eyes To Eyes are through to the @Ladbrokescomau Christmas Gift ???? Final next week, after Heat 1 at @WentyParkGreys tonight ????

Full Results: https://t.co/SAgwDDNPPF#thedogs #greyhoundracing #wentypark pic.twitter.com/ismhUNKHKs

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) December 9, 2023

"For that reason, I spaced his runs and gave him an easy time.

"He won the odd race but then he turned two in October so I upped his workload and it's all started to come together over the past couple of months.

"As soon as I upped the anti with him, he just took off and he's loving the work."

The real strength to the racing style of Eyes To Eyes is the dog's box manners and early pace which has been on show when leading in five of his last seven starts.

"He's always had the pace but now that I'm working him harder, he's a more settled dog in everything he does and that's showing early in his races," Brown said.

"He's got that great pace and dogs with great pace aren't easy to find but when you get one, they're worth their weight in gold."

Eyes To Eyes has already been well backed to win Saturday night's feature, firming in from $12 to $4.80.

After Saturday night's feature, Brown indicated Eyes To Eyes has a couple of feature race targets ahead over the next six weeks.

"He'll go to the Gosford Cup and then the (National) Derby in January," he said.

Meanwhile, litter brother Orson Eyes has drawn box two on Saturday in the opening race of the night, the Christmas @ Wenty Park Stakes over 520m.

"Early days I actually thought he was the better of the two but he's had a few setbacks," Brown said.

"He can improve of last week. That was his first time back to Wenty since he was a pup so he's open to a bit of improvement."