Zambora Brockie is on target to land the rare Vic Peters Classic and Paws Of Thunder Group 1 double after easily posting the fastest time in Saturday night's Ladbrokes Paws Of Thunder heats at Wentworth Park.
The Anthony Azzopardi-trained greyhound exploded from the rails to lead throughout in heat five, winning by 10 lengths and clocking 29.60 - 0.17 quicker than Nangar Flame recorded in heat eight.
After his heat win Zambora Brockie looked set to start an odds-on favourite for next Saturday night's final but he will now be at black odds after drawing box six.
"That makes it a bit harder," Azzopardi said after the draw.
"But it is not too bad because I did not want my other dog Asa Flying Spur to draw outside him as he might have cut across Zambora Brockie at the start.
"Zambora Brockie can handle an outside draw because he won the Vic Peters Classic from box eight."
Other heat winners were Smart Missile along with Zambora Brockie's kennelmate Asa Flying Spur in 29.89,Tap Out Rose in 29.96s, Paloma Lago in 30.17sec and the Andrea Dailly prepared duo Helga Bale (30.15) and Elfen Bale (30.24).
Ladies Bracelet winner Elfen Bale was the slowest qualifier but she will be hard to beat in the final after drawing nicely in box seven.
Elfen Bale had box two in her heat but ran out and collided with La Grand Logie at the first turn and showed plenty of grit to hold off a back straight challenge from Chevy Prince before drawing away for a two length win.
There was a mighty cheer from connections when second fastest heat winner Nangar Flame drew box one in the final and the Dennis Barnes-trained dog is ideally boxed.
Trainer Jason MACKAY, meanwhile, is confident Smart Missile will be a better greyhound in the final than he was for his box one heat win.
"He fell heavily in the Woy Woy Poultry Gold Cup final on New Year's Night and had a few bumps and bruises after that," MACKAY said on Saturday.
"As late as last Monday it looked like I might have to scratch him from the Paws Of Thunder but he recovered sufficiently to take his place in the field.
"But I'm relieved he is through to the final and has another week to be at his best again."
Box draw for the Group 1 Ladbrokes Paws Of Thunder next Saturday night is: 1. Nangar Flame 2. Tap Out Rose 3. Asa Flying Spur 4. Smart Missile 5. Paloma Lago 6. Zambora Brockie 7. Elfen Bale 8. Helga Bale. Reserves: 9. Pedro Cerrano 10. Explosive Range.
