Moreira is set to start favourite and to give trainer Jason Thompson his second Golden Easter Egg win after drawing the prized rails box in next Saturday night's Group 1 final at Wentworth Park.
Thompson, who won in 2012 with Don't Knocka Him, is upbeat about Moreira's prospects after the greyhound overcame an unsuitable box eight draw to win his semi-final on Saturday night.
Moreira came from fifth at the first turn and third on the back straight to run down Richmond Derby winner Knight Sprite on the line, scoring by a neck in 29.93.
After the race Thompson said: "His run tonight was terrific and if Moreira draws inside in the final and begins safely I'm confident he will run 29.50.''
Moreira is owned by Adean Manolitsis, who raced former champion pacer Young Rufus and was a part-owner of former top class sprinting greyhound Nolen.
Not only did Moreira draw the rails, but he came up with the added luxury of having slow beginners Brad Hill Billy and the wide running Rare Pearl outside him in boxes two and three.
Fastest semi-final winner was the Andrea Dailly-trained Dawkins Bale, runner-up in the 2015 final to his kennelmate Fernando Bale.
Before the heats Dailly's husband Tom told thedogs.com.au that the dog was going better than ever and in his semi-finals Dawkins Bale came out "under the lids'' to lead throughout in 29.71.
He exited box four but despite racing wide all the way defeated Richmond Oaks winner Mitcharlie Mia by almost three lengths.
Dawkins Bale has again drawn four in the final while Mitcharlie Mia, who had box eight in her semi, will carry the pink rug once more next Saturday night.
Rare Pearl ran away from pacemaker Asa Killa Queen in the straight to win his semi-final in 29.98 while Brad Hill Billy, assisted by a dream run along the rails, came from last at the first turn to win in 29.85.
Before the box draw I asked Brad Hill Billy's trainer Ray Smith where he wanted to draw and he quipped: "Actually I would like a head start.''
When his dog came up with box two Smith said: "Brad Hill Billy is a 'back marker' so boxes don't matter much to him, it all depends on what sort of run he gets through the field.
"But I suppose close to the rails is better than being in the middle or out wide so box two is okay.''
Knight Sprite has never been in better form but while he seems precariously positioned in five, between wide running Dawkins Bale in four and front-runner Asa Killa Queen in six, his trainer Gayle Masterson is unconcerned.
"Knight Sprite begins well from any box so he is all right where he is,'' Masterson said. "The only draw I didn't want was box one because good beginners tend to miss the start from the rails draw at Wentworth Park.''
Moreira gives Victoria a second-to-none chance of notching a seventh successive Golden Easter Egg, with Mitcharlie Mia shaping up as the best chance of the locals.
The Northern Rivers trained greyhound handles box eight comfortably and could get a good run down the outside of the track, courtesy of fast beginning Asa Killa Queen in six.
Come On Fantasy is drawn to win Saturday night's other group 1 event, the GBOTA Association Cup, after coming up with box two.
The Joe Borg-trained Victorian stayer led throughout from the same draw to win her 720m heat on Saturday night in 41.92.
Victorian-trained greyhounds won the other two heats, with rookie trainer Mark Giddings winning in 42.09 with $41 outsider Lioness Lulu and Jeff Britton qualifying with Dublin Bull in 42.26.
The draw favours Come On Fantasy as risky beginner Phantom Reign has drawn box one in the final, with Dublin Bull, a wide runner, in box three.
Box draw for the Association Cup is 1 Phantom Reign 2 Come On Fantasy 3 Dublin Bull 4 Ryno's Raider 5 Madliena Girl 6 Whittaker 7 Serena Nimbus 8 Lioness Lulu with reserves Tizza Nitro and No Donuts.
Golden Easter Egg draw is 1 Moreira 2 Brad Hill Billy 3 Rare Pearl 4 Dawkins Bale 5 Knight Sprite 6 Asa Killa Queen 7 Blue Revolver 8 Mitcharlie Mia with reserves Black Bear Lee and Marley Bale.
See you next week!
