Kihael Kaluna began brilliantly to post fastest time in the Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic semi-finals and trainer Mark Gatt believes he will need to jump just as quickly if he is to win Saturday night's Group 1 final at Wentworth Park.
The lightly raced greyhound (pictured), who has box three in the final, came out "under the lids'' to lead throughout in 29.69 in his semi-final, just lasting to win by a nose from Zambora Brockie, who has box eight this week.
Gatt said he was confident heading into Saturday’s feature race, but acknowledged Kihael Kaluna will need to begin well to be any hope.
“When my dog drew box three I was rapt but when I looked at the semi-final replays I noticed Black's A Marble, who has box two in the final, is close to a foolproof beginner,” Gatt said.
“He gets up the track slightly so if Kihael Kaluna comes out like he did last week he will be okay but if he doesn't nail the start perfectly he could be hampered by Black's A Marble.”
While Victoria's Blazin' Bomber, who won in semi-final in 30.10, is widely regarded as the fastest dog in the final, Gatt is wary of Zambora Brockie.
“A good friend of mine who is an excellent judge of form believes Zambora Brockie will get the run of the race from box eight,” Gatt said.
Zambora Brockie's trainer Anthony Azzopardi is far from convinced, however.
“In the past my dog has wanted to go to the rails," Azzopardi said. "Hopefully he has learned enough in his heat and semi-final to handle the wide draw.
“I think Zambora Brockie is good enough to win just about any race, but box eight could beat him.”
Blazin' Bomber's trainer Darren Pattinson, meanwhile, said his greyhound had pulled up well from his thrilling semi final victory last weekend.
“I will be trying to keep him quiet and relaxed before the final," Pattisinson said. "He was over the top just before the start in his heat and semi-final at Wentworth Park and has not come out well in either race.
“Having said that he has box four so I'm not sure if I want him to come out smartly or not. Blazin' Bomber could get a clearer run if he misses the jump.
Black Bear Lee, chasing his ninth win in 13 starts, might be the dog to get a soft run to the first turn in the final.
The Ruth Matic-trained greyhound has won two of his three starts from box five, the draw he has on Saturday night.
And he has clocked 29.69 at Wentworth Park - figures bettered in the final by only Zambora Brockie, who has recorded 29.66.
Black Bear Lee, who won the Group 3 Magic Maiden this year, is in the best form of his career and with slow beginners drawn in four and six only has to run straight from the boxes to the first turn to secure a clear passage.
The only trainer with a finalist who has previously landed the Vic Peters Classic is Tracey Hurst, who has Good Odds Ocker chasing his seventh straight win in box seven.
Hurst won the 2010 Vic Peters Classic with Dancing Surf but concedes her finalist this year - desperate railer Good Odds Ocker - faces a mountainous task to win from his wide draw.
In other action on Saturday night, a smart trial and an impressive win at Nowra have trainer Garry Edwards believing Shady Ace has shrugged off a form lapse and is ready to run a big race in Saturday night's CHRIS & Vicki Appreciation Free-For-All (520m).
Shady Ace finished among the tailenders at Wentworth Park on October 3 and 10 but overcame a slow start to win in a fast 29.81 at Nowra on Monday.
“Three of her kennelmates came in season in early October and I think Shady Ace went off the boil in sympathy with them,” Edwards said. "She started walking around like a sad sack and raced below form.
"Eight days before her Nowra win, though, she seemed back to her old self and clocked 29.84 on a slow track before going even faster in Monday's race.
“Shady Ace formerly liked to go around her rivals but these days she wants to rail underneath them. So her box two draw on Saturday looks ideal.”
Saturday night's safest bet could be the front-runner Let It Develop, who has box five in the Mick Byrnes Stakes (520m).
Let It Develop had to work hard to reach the lead before being run down by strong finisher Goldengrove Lad at Wentworth Park last Saturday and drops slightly in grade this week.
Good value on Saturday is Mrs Huang, who showed good early speed before fading to fifth in Kihael Kaluna's Vic Peters Classic semi final last Saturday night.
Mrs Huang, back in fifth grade company, is nicely drawn in box seven and is poised to lead throughout in heat one of the Ladbrokes Bet Better Sprint (520m).
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: Let It Develop (Race 5)
Best Value: Mrs Huang (Race 1)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 5, 4
Race 6 - 2, 7, 5
Race 7 - 2, 6, 7
Race 8 - 5, 4, 3
$20 for 37.03%
