Ritza Lenny will be sent out a hot favourite for Saturday night's Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic after coming up with a dream draw in the 520m final at Wentworth Park.
The Mark Gatt-trained greyhound is second fastest qualifier behind El Magnifico but has drawn box one in the final, with the quickest semi-finalist getting box eight.
El Magnifico led throughout to win in 29.72 on a slow track while Ritza Lenny, who trailed Runway Idole for the first 200m, won in 29.82.
Ritza Lenny though had a slight edge in run home times, getting to the finish line in 11.73 with El Magnifico stopping the clock at 11.74.
Trainer Mark Gatt could hardly conceal his delight when Ritza Lenny drew the rails.
"Box one is always Ritza Lenny's best draw and with Buck Forty, who lacks early speed, in box two, I could not have asked for anything more," Gatt said.
El Magnifico's trainer Julie Fletcher wanted box one or two but along with husband Bruce, was philosophical about coming up with box eight.
"If he could not get one or two, I guess box eight is next best," Bruce Fletcher said.
"El Magnifico has had box eight once previously and he won after handling the draw well."
Fastest first splits of 5.48 were posted by Runway Idole and Tap Out Scarlet, who qualified for the final by being runners-up in their semi-finals.
Box draw for the Peter Mosman Classic final is: 1. Ritza Lenny 2. Buck Forty 3. Shima Song 4. Invictus Rapid 5. Tap Out Scarlet 6. Runway Idole 7. Zambora Idol 8. El Magnifico. Reserves: 9. Unlawful Entry 10. Nangar Thunder.
In other action at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, four people who had never attended a greyhound race meeting, let alone owned one of the competitors, were part of the syndicate of 10 which races Slick Simzy, who the Ladbrokes GBOTA Sprint Challenge.
Slick Simzy took his Wentworth Park record to three wins from as many starts when he led throughout for a runaway victory.
Slick Simzy was one of four finalists prepared by trainer Michael Clayton, and after the race Brett Sullivan, manager of the Victorian-based K9 Racers Syndicate, paid tribute to the Southern Highlands-based trainer.
"Michael did an incredible amount of travelling all over the state to ensure Slick Simzy reached the final and has capped it off by landing us the $20,000 winner's cheque," Sullivan said.
Frank Sidrak, breeder and part-owner of Iona Muffin Top, long priced winner of the Ladbrokes GBOTA Distance Challenge, admitted after the 720m race he had "no idea" beforehand whether the greyhound would run out the distance.
Iona Muffin Top, trained by fellow part-owner Martin Green, had not been tested beyond 590m and only scraped into the final with a minimum amount of points.
"And we threw Iona Muffin Top into the Challenge series at the last minute," Sidrak explained.
"I contacted the Bulli secretary last month asking when the club was going to program a 590m race and was told there would be such an event on May 13, but it would be a heat of the Challenge.
"Although we had not intended to contest the Challenge, having no idea whether Iona Muffin Top would see out the 720m of the Wentworth Park final, we threw him into the Bulli race just to get into a 590m event.
"We thought that would suit the dog and while he made the pace and was run down, finishing third at Bulli, Iona Muffin Top has just kept improving since then and he led all the way tonight."
See you next week!
