Dodger I Am has certainly earned a crack at Group success but fortune may be against him this time.
The sprinter, who has won 10 of his first 14 outings, goes in the third of four Group 3 Brian Johnstone Memorial (515m) heats at Angle Park on Wednesday.
Dodger I Am also looked the one to beat here having drawn favourably in box two.
After a couple of recent below-par outings, though, owner- trainer Cameron Butcher is not getting his hopes up.
“He’s had an issue with his metacarpals,” Butcher said. “I think it has affected him the last two races.
“He will run but it’s a bit of a worry.
“If he jumps well then he’s still got a chance but I think it will be tough here.”
Dodger I Am won 10 of his first 12 starts, including three from three jumping from box two over 515m at Angle Park.
A son of Cosmic Rumble and Little Looper, who between them enjoyed 35 wins, the chaser has surprised Butcher with his impressive record so far.
“He is an amazing dog,” Butcher said. ‘He does everything wrong – he jumps slowly and then he tends to go wide all the time as well.
“If a dog goes wide then they usually cannot win but he is such a quick greyhound.
“I’ve been very surprised with how he has gone but he is so strong at the end of races.
“If he is feeling good he can win here.”
Butcher also has Dodger I Am’s sister Spicy Peppa jumping from box six in the first heat.
She has been almost as impressive as her brother with nine wins from 15 starts to her name.
The standout of the $25,000-to-the-winner race is double 2014 Group winner Oakvale Destiny, who goes in the second heat.
This year’s Group 1 Sapphire Crown and Group 3 SA Oaks winner has been racing solidly if not spectacularly recently, including a third-place finish in a Melbourne Cup heat last week.
She jumps from box two here and looks tough to stop.
Another from Victorian Jeff Britton’s kennels, Texas Titan, looks the pick in heat four, with inconsistent but dangerous Footluce Diva also a contender.
The race is open to SA bred greyhounds whelped between June 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012.
Semi-finals will be run next Thursday with the final on Thursday, December 4.
For Angle Park Wednesday fields, form and expert tips, click here.
