Gallaway Has A Sensational Chance In Final

Some of the most promising young greyhounds from NSW and Queensland will go head-to-head tonight in the final of the Northern Rivers K9 Reproduction Maiden Series (520m) at Ladbrokes Park Lismore.

Headlining the field is Sheza Sensation, who posted the fastest times in both the heats and semi-finals of the series. Sheza Sensation won her 420m heat in 23.94 and last Tuesday's semi final in 23.90, and has drawn box three for the decider.

While trainer Jim Gallaway has been delighted with Sheza Sensation's form in the series to date, he concedes she is far from a sure thing in this week's final.

"Box three is not brilliant but if she jumps like she did in her heat and semi and can clear the greyhounds drawn in boxes one and two she will be hard to beat," Gallaway said.

"Battistuzzi Miss looks the one to beat but at least my greyhound has the advantage of being drawn inside her.

"There was nothing between the first sectional times of Sheza Sensation and Battistuzzi Miss but my greyhound came home quicker."

But Frank Hancock, who trained the 2014 maiden series winner Laverne, rates his Tuesday finalist Battistuzzi Miss (box four) as "on a par" with last year's winner.

"There would be little between them at this stage although Laverne at the same age was probably a bit stronger at the finish," Hancock said.

"Battistuzzi Miss clocked 24.18 in her semi final but did not begin as well as she can. Yet she still recorded a similar first sectional time to Sheza Sensation.

"I'm hoping Battistuzzi Miss can get in front of Sheza Sensation in the early stages because while Jim Gallaway's greyhound is outstanding she has not yet been put under any pressure."

Hancock has three finalists on Tuesday, with Battistuzzi Miss's siblings La Mancha Man (box five) winning his semi in 24.30 and Mr Battistuzzi (box six) scoring in 24.64.

"Although Mr Battistuzzi ran the slowest time of my trio he is a very strong dog and it would not surprise me if he went close to winning," Hancock added.

"He overcame all sorts of trouble to win his semi final and while I was hoping for box eight for him in the final at least he is drawn out wide where he wants to be."

Slowest semi-final winner Tweed Dancer, owned and trained by retired policeman Mark Johnston, is the best outsider in Tuesday's final.

Tweed Dancer began well in his semi but was badly checked by a wide runner and stormed home from midfield at the halfway mark to win in 24.73.

Another trainer with a finalist who has previously won the Lismore classic is Mathew Reid, whose dog Credit Entry came from a long way back to win his semi-final in 24.54.

Reid won the 2012 final with Hydraulics but gives his 2015 finalist little chance from box seven.

"He is still very raw and inexperienced and will need a lot of luck to win from out there," Reid said. "Credit Entry has talent but he needed an inside box to be a realistic chance of winning."

For Lismore Tuesday fields, form and expert picks, click here.

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