Leading trainer Jason MACKAY believes Smart Missile is perfectly drawn to claim Saturday's Ladbrokes NSW Sprint Championship final (520m, race seven) at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
The son of Nitro Burst and Oh See Ya is the $1.85 favourite with Sportsbet after drawing box one for the feature event on the back of his impressive 29.43 heat last weekend.
MACKAY, who trained 2006 National Sprint Championship winner Immortal Love, believes his greyhound is entitled to his high ranking.
"To win he had to draw box one, two or three because when he draws wide Smart Missile invariably misses the jump,'' the trainer said.
"I wasn't surprised when he clocked 29.43 in his heat win last week because early in his career he trialled 29.50 at The Gardens on a slow track.
"Smart Missile has not been beaten in five starts from the three inside boxes because the rails draws, especially box one, seem to drag him out quicker.
"As far as comparing him with Immortal Love there is no comparison.
"Smart Missile would lap him.''
A high-class field has qualified for the race, which will see the winner represent NSW in the Group 1 National decider at Wentworth Park on Saturday, August 22.
One trainer not afraid of Smart Missile is Jeff Eaton, whose front runner La Grand Logie has box four.
"I was hoping for box two or four so I'm happy,'' Eaton said.
"La Grand Logie jumps better when he draws an even numbered box because that way he is not in the boxes for as long.
"He needed a good hit-out before last Saturday's heats so four nights earlier I trialled him at Wenty and he produced blistering first and second splits of 5.25 and 13.65.
"But I think that run, which he needed, flattened him slightly so I have kept him on the lead this week hoping he jumps in front and leads around the first turn.
"I really think this race is winnable.''
Anthony Azzopardi concedes Smart Missile, far and away the fastest qualifier, looks the winner on Saturday night.
The western Sydney trainer has two finalists, Uno Suzie in box two and Jack Kade in box eight.
"Jack Kade is ideally drawn and Uno Suzie is not badly positioned either, although she seems to muster speed faster when she draws in the middle of the track," he said. "But they are going to have to do every thing right to beat Smart Missile.''
Azzopardi also has Magic Earner in Saturday night's Distance Final (720m, race five) and believes she is his best prospect.
The greyhound won last week's heat in a sparkling 42.15 and looks the best bet from box two.
"She is flying at the moment and box two is just great for her,'' Azzopardi said.
Lithgow Panther bungled the start when fourth in Magic Earner's heat but he has won over the Wentworth Park 720m trip in time just .06 slower then Azzopardi's greyhound.
If John Chapman's greyhound starts cleanly from box four looks the one to beat.
My Boy Snoop resumes from a lengthy injury-enforced spell for Anthony Azzopardi in Saturday's 2nd Sky Racing Sprint heat but his trainer says he is raring to go.
"He has had a recurring hip problem and he hurt it again at Bulli on May 29 but is firing again now and is well boxed in seven on Saturday,'' Azzopardi said.
Isabel Enlim ran the race of her life when fourth in Knight Sprite's National Distance Championship heat last Saturday.
A drop to fifth grade in Saturday's 3rd Sky Racing heat should put her back in the winner's circle.
"I would have preferred to see Isabel Enlim drawn inside rather than out in box six, but she can handle wide draws," trainer Len Haring said.
"While she is not a brilliant box dog she is a consistently reliable beginner."
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Smart Missile (Race 7)
Best Value: Windaroo Lad (Race 8)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 2, 4, 6
Race 6 - 1, 7, 8
Race 7 - 1, 4
Race 8 - 8, 3, 7
$20 for 37.03%
