Zambora Brockie will have to end a 50-year hoodoo if he is to win Saturday night's Group 1 Ladbrokes Paws of Thunder (520m) final at Wentworth Park.
The Anthony Azzopardi-trained speedster goes into the race as easily the fastest of the eight heat winners and has already tasted Group 1 success, landing the Vic Peters Classic final last October.
History is against him, though, with Daily Tide the last greyhound to win the Vic Peters Classic/Paws Of Thunder double back in 1965.
In those days the Vic Peters was run at Harold Park while the Thunder was known as the NSW St Leger but the pair of wins has since eluded a string of champions.
Zambora Brockie had box one when he began brilliantly to win his heat and trainer Anthony Azzopardi, while admitting box six "makes a final win a bit harder'', is not too concerned.
"There is not a lot of speed inside Zambora Brockie," Azzopardi said. "I'm happy my other finalist Asa Flying Spur has box three because if he had drawn outside him he might have crowded him in the run to the first turn.
Tom Dailly, whose wife Andrea has qualified with Elfen Bale and Helga Bale in boxes seven and eight in the Paws Of Thunder, rates the former his family's best chance.
"Although Elfen Bale's heat time wasn't flash it was a tough win,'' Dailly said. "She got bashed about a bit during the race but now she is as good as gold.
"Box seven is okay for her because she is a good beginner who will run straight from the boxes to the first corner.''
Helga Bale is an up-and-comer who surprised Dailly with her Thunder heat win and he says box eight will suit her.
"Helga Bale doesn't like being crowded so being on the outside is good,'' he said.
"More importantly though, Helga Bale will stay in a straight line from the boxes to the bend so she shouldn't hamper Elfen Bale at all.''
Elfen Bale ran down another Daily-trained greyhound, Dyna Nico, to win the Group 3 Ladies Bracelet final at Wentworth Park in May and looks Zambora Brockie's toughest rival on Saturday night.
Pedro Cerrano is "perfectly boxed'' in two in the Paws Of Thunder Consolation, The Collerson, according to his trainer John Little.
"If he begins like he has at his past three starts Pedro Cerrano is boxed to be the pacemaker,'' Little said.
"Nangar Flame got straight behind him when he finished second in last week's Paws Of Thunder heat but I was pleased with my dog's run because he hung on well.
"Nangar Flame's kennelmate Nangar Flash looks my main danger this week because he seems boxed okay in eight and he has a powerful finish.''
Former Western Australian greyhound Channing">Channing will be on trial for a start in next week's Group 1 National Derby heats when he makes his NSW race debut in the Ladbrokes Night Stakes.
Channing, who is raced by his breeder, John McGeary, and former rugby league test star Terry Hill, is being trained in NSW by Ruth King.
The greyhound had his first look at Wentworth Park last Saturday night and rocketed over the 520m in 29.75 in a solo trial, posting a slick first split of 5.45.
"He is a hot dog,'' Ruth King said later. "I didn't expect Channing to break 30 seconds as it was his first look at the track so was rapt when the time was semaphored.''
Channing, who has won five of 11 WA starts, has box two on Saturday night where his clash with Mark Gatt's exciting former Melbourne dog Takedown">Takedown should provide the best sidelight of the attractive programme.
Takedown is also a National Derby candidate.
Saturday night's other big race is the Group 2 Summer Distance Plate where Victorian-trained Ryno's Raider is tipped to win despite being beaten by No Donuts in last week's fastest heat.
Ryno's Raider bungled the start last Saturday and was desperately unlucky, going down narrowly to the Sale Cup winner.
"His heat run was great because I had not trialled him at Wenty and because Ryno's Raider is mad for the rails box two in the final is great,'' said trainer Tom O'Donovan.
Ryno's Raider's main danger could be former Victorian Porrentruy">Porrentruy, now trained at Londonderry by Gary Adams.
Porrentruy was a fast finishing fourth in No Donuts' heat and after the race Adams' son Luke, who handles the dog, said box one would bring him into the final with a good show.
Porrentruy will carry the red rug on Saturday night.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert tips, click here.
Jeff Collerson's Wentworth Park Saturday picks:
Best Bet: La Grand Logie (race 2)
Best Value: Ryno's Raider (race 8)
Quaddie: Race 5 - 5, 3, 2
Race 6 - 7, 6, 1
Race 7 - 4, 5, 3
Race 8 - 2, 1
$20 for 37.03%
