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Bessy Boo, fifth last year in the Group 1 National Sprint Championship, has earned a second shot at the title thanks to a remarkable win in Saturday night's NSW Sprint Final at Wentworth Park.
Coming from an unsuitable box six draw, Bessy Boo (pictured) was seventh going into the first turn but came out of the catching pen only trailing Jack Kade and La Grand Logie.
From there it was only a matter of Christine Proctor's great campaigner getting a clear run, and although held up slightly, he ran away to win by just on four lengths in 29.81, with Jack Kade's clear second placing winning him a place in Saturday night's $75,000 to the winner final.
Bessy Boo displayed good track sense in taking advantage of a slight scrimmage on the first corner, where Uno Suzie and hot favourite Smart Missile tangled up.
While Bessy Boo had some good fortune in finding the rails run at that point, he once again, like all champions, made his own luck.
"Bessy Boo is truly a one-in-a-million greyhound," Proctor said.
"Last year he finished fifth from a wide draw, which didn't suit him, on a track which he was not used to."
Bessy Boo's owner Ashley Wilson added: "When he was a distant third I was hoping he would sneak into second place to qualify for the final but to see him get up and win is fantastic."
Proctor was hoping for box one in the final so was delighted when her greyhound came up with the next best option, box two.
Meanwhile, Jack Kade's owner Peter Spiteri was over-joyed with qualifying for the Group 1 Ladbrokes National Sprint Championship.
"I have never had a starter in a race of this magnitude so no matter where my dog finishes in the final I'll be over the moon," he said.
"Just to be in a race like this is a dream come true."
Box draw for the National Sprint Championship is: 1. Jack Kade 2. Bessy Boo 3. Keybow 4. Nero Bolt 5. Fernando Bale 6. Breaker's Tip 7. Alex's Entity 8. Margins. Reserves: 9. Tap Out Rose 10. La Grand Logie.
Bookmaker Mark Merlino believes Fernando Bale will still be a short-priced favourite for the Group 1 feature despite drawing box five.
"Fernando Bale will be a warm favourite with Keybow second in the betting, Bessy Boo third pick and any old price the rest of the field," Merlino said.
Veteran Keybow, the 2014 Perth Cup winner and who will be representing Queensland next Saturday, showed he is far from a spent force with a sizzling 29.63 solo trial before the first race last Saturday night.
Keybow produced quick splits of 5.42, 13.64 and 17.78 and trainer Tony Brett was thrilled.
"I set him a big task because he was in the car at six o'clock this morning to drive from Brisbane to Wentworth Park so it was a big ask, but I felt he needed another look at the track."
