A Group title, a $25,000 top prize and the possible decider for this year's NSW Greyhound of the Year crown - there is plenty at stake in the John Stollery Christmas Gift Final.
Saturday’s decider at Wentworth Park is a mouth-watering affair, pitting Doreen Drynan's gun chaser Chica Destacada against the queen of NSW sprinting, ZIPPING Willow.
Both were impressive qualifiers in last Saturday night's heats, with just 0.01 seconds separating the pair’s winning times in their respective heats.
The chasers are possible contenders for the 2014 NSW Greyhound of the Year crown after enjoying fantastic years on the track.
Chica Destacada's golden 2014 includes winning both the NSW and Group 1 National Sprinting titles and a runner-up placing in the recent Melbourne Cup.
Last Saturday night's 29.77 run in soggy conditions was another strong performance from the sprinter.
Click here to watch Chica Destacada's heats win.
She jumps from box one in the final and may prove unassailable if she pings the lids.
With two wins from just four starts from the rail during her 33-race career, though, Saturday will be a good test of Chica Destacada’s usually devastating early pace.
She will also have to overcome ZIPPING Willow and her phenomenal record at Wentworth Park.
Last Saturday night’s strong 29.78 run in soggy conditions was her 19th career success at the Glebe track and took her career record to a superb 33 wins from 49 starts.
After being hampered by injury and illness, she has won five out of her last six starts and looks back to her imperious best.
She drew box six, from which she has had four wins from seven starts, for the final.
Click here to watch ZIPPING Willow's win in the heats.
While it is hard to look beyond the leading pair for the Group 3 final, the rest of the field certainly cannot be written off.
This year’s Group 1 National Futurity winner Rue De Kahn (pictured, pink rug) qualified with a strong 30.17 run in the heats behind ZIPPING Angel.
She is in good form but is stronger from the inside so box five is a far from ideal draw.
ZIPPING Willow’s kennelmate, ZIPPING Angel, could be the one to provide an upset.
The consistent sprinter won her heat in an impressive 29.95 and usually fires from box three, where she will jump from in the final.
Peter’s Pick, Jumble, ZIPPING Tank and Cawbourne Kayono have done well to reach the final, but it would be an upset if any of them took the top spot.
