Tricky Jade’s trainer Marty Hallinan has nominated the Anthony Azzopardi-trained Kulu Special as the greyhound to beat in Thursday afternoon’s Rocky Ridge Dubbo Gold Cup (516m) final.
Although Toby Weekes’ Soviet Missile was the fastest heat winner, covering the 516m in 29.80, Marty rates Kulu Special as the danger.
"She has won in 29.72 at Wentworth Park so is obviously a talented bitch," Marty said.
"I have two qualifiers, Tricky Jade and Zipping Tess, but prefer the chances of Tricky Jade.
"She has a bigger motor than Zipping Tess and with box three, Tricky Jade has the better draw.
"I trialled Tricky Jade at Dubbo before the heats and she broke the first and second section records.
"Her worry is she has a problem muscle in her hind leg and I have to work on it constantly, she is a day to day proposition."
Anthony Azzopardi believes Kulu Special, who overcame a slow start to win her heat in 29.92, 0.05 faster than Tricky Jade, can improve.
"Kulu Special hit the running rail at her Wentworth Park start immediately before the Dubbo Cup heat and pulled up sore," Anthony said.
"Because of that I was unable to give her a trial at Dubbo so she went into the heats without having seen the track.
"Kulu Special is usually a good beginner but perhaps because she did not know the Dubbo track she missed the jump in her heat.
"Although Kulu Special is 30 months old she is not that age in terms of experience, and is still learning.
"I believe she has the ability to win a group event if she draws the right box in the right race.
"I tried to buy her from her owner John Clarson last year but he wouldn’t sell.
"Six months later he called and asked me to train her on his behalf."
Fastest qualifier Soviet Missile can handle box seven but his lack of early speed is his flaw while the other heat winner, Haves, took 29.99 to qualify but staged a remarkable performance to come from last at box rise and fourth on the home bend to score.
The first race at Dubbo Thursday jumps at 1.54pm with the Dubbo Gold Cup (race 8) starting at 4.12pm.
