Phil Goodsell will give Stilton Blue (pictured) the best of both worlds in preparation for this Saturday’s Rapidvite Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic Final at Wentworth Park.
The fast-rising campaigner will start from box three in the $75,000-to-the-winner 520m final after qualifying in impressive fashion.
Stilton Blue’s draw means he will be outside likely hot favourite Push It, who won her heat in dramatic fashion, in box two.
Trainer Goodsell admitted it was advantage to DEAN Swain’s greyhound for the final but said it was not an unfavourable draw for his charge.
“I think Push It will start favourite,” Goodsell said.
“I think (Stilton Blue) has only had box three once before, but it won’t worry him. He seems to get a good start out of every box.
“He is a genuine chaser when he gets out there, so he should be able to keep out trouble early.
“Everyone knows that getting through that first corner is the crucial thing. If he can do that, he has a chance.”
Stilton Blue claimed his semi-final on Saturday night in 29.93, seeing off a strong field including fellow final qualifiers Bessy Boo and My Awesome Opal.
The usually irrepressible Hooksy disappointed in finishing sixth.
It was another strong outing from last month’s Group 3 Sportingbet Bulli Gold Final runner-up, who has placed on seven of his nine starts at Wentworth Park over 520m and has 12 wins from 26 starts overall.
“I’m so happy for the dog,” Goodsell, who is based at Falls Creek on the NSW south coast, said. “He deserves a crack at a big one like this.
“He is a good honest dog and always tries his guts out.”
Goodsell said he would take the dog to two of his favourite haunts this week in preparation for the final, including Callala Beach at Jervis Bay.
“It’s a nice quiet place with not too many people around,” he said. “We like to mix things up so we may go there.
“If not, there’s bush land close to the end of my road which is a perfect place to give them a walk.
”You can crack open a beer there and just forget about everything else.
“I think he has got a decent chance, but at the end of the day you just hope he and the other dogs get round safely.”
The full draw for this Saturday's Peter Mosman Classic final at Wentworth Park is as follows:
1: Bessy Boo; 2: Push It; 3: Stilton Blue; 4: Access; 5: Tommy Brislane; 6: Where’s The Surf; 7: My Awesome Opal; Box 8: All Strung Out; 9: Fire Elusive; 10. Keybow.
