Smart Missile will start a red hot favourite in next Saturday night's NSW Sprint Final after setting the time standard from box one in his heat and drawing the same alley in this week's run-off.
The Jason Mackay-trained greyhound had jumped poorly for a win and three placings in five starts leading up to Saturday night's second heat but after being third early and second entering the back straight he raced away to win easily in a sensational 29.43.
Smart Missile posted a slashing third section of 17.77 in running down tearaway leader Ryley Sams, who also qualified for the state final.
Last year's National Sprint Championship winner Chica Destacada was bundled out of this year's series when she finished fourth, despite a good getaway, while Brad Hill Billy, favourite for last Saturday night's heat, was a strong third after missing the jump.
In other heats, Knight Sprite held a big early lead and just lasted to beat Uno Suzie by a nose in 29.85 while outsiders Tap Out Rose and Jack Kade won the other heats in 29.86 and 30.02 respectively.
Bessy Boo chased home Tap Out Rose so the 2014 Peter Mosman Classic winner has zoomed into another major final while Jack Kade led throughout and held off another front-runner La Grand Logie to complete the NSW final lineup.
Box draw for the Ladbrokes NSW Sprint Final is: 1. Smart Missile 2. Uno Suzie 3. Ryley Sams 4. La Grand Logie 5. Knight Sprite 6. Bessy Boo 7. Tap Out Rose 8. Jack Kade. Reserves 9. Brad Hill Billy 10. Opus Forte.
Knight Sprite's owner-trainer Gayle Masterson was not perturbed by her dog's box five draw.
"He can begin fast from any box, I'm not too worried."
Ryley Sams' owner Gary Oldfield had been hoping for box seven or eight while Bessy Boo's trainer Christine Oldfield desperately wanted an inside draw.
"My dog's hope now is that La Grand Logie and Knight Sprite, in boxes four and five, will show good early speed and give Bessy Boo a cart across to the rails," Oldfield said.
La Grand Logie's trainer Jeff Eaton was upbeat about his dog's prospects despite his box four final draw.
"Four nights before the heats I trialled La Grand Logie at Wentworth Park and he recorded a first split of 5.25 so if he repeats that he can lead from any box," Eaton said.
In the stayers division, Magic Earner set the fastest time of the night over the 720m in the second heat of the NSW Distance Final.
Following the win, it was announced that Anthony Azzopardi would immediately take over the training of Magic Earner.
Azzopardi trained Magic Earner when she won over 715m at Sandown on July 16 in a blistering 41.85 and is excited about having her in his kennels again for the Championship deciders.
"She is a top class stayer and getting box two in next Saturday night's state final is close to perfect for her," Azzopardi said.
In Saturday's heat Magic Earner overcame a poor start to be third on the back straight before hitting the front in the straight to defeat fast finishing Raramuri by two lengths.
Magic Earner covered the 720m in 42.15 while the other heat winner Evidence surprised even trainer Mark Bell by his strength at the finish when he led throughout to score in 42.29.
Bell wanted box eight in the next Saturday night's final but was satisfied when his wide running greyhound drew six.
Owen Langley, trainer of Raramuri was disappointed at getting box eight.
Lord Golec, another wide runner, drew box one in Saturday's state final but trainer Michael Eberand was not disappointed.
"Apart from box eight, box one is next best for Lord Golec," he said.
"He is capable of beginning a lot better than he did when he finished third in Magic Earner's heat tonight and if he does I think he will drive up keenly going to the first turn."
Box draw for the NSW Distance Final is: 1. Lord Golec 2. Magic Earner 3. Ada Mary 4. Lighgow Panther 5. Booster Valve 6. Evidence 7. Smooth Number 8. Raramuri. Reserves: 9. Flamin' Go 10. Paddles Anderson.
See you next week!
