Up Hill Jill's trainer David Geall believes his greyhound's rails draw could tip the scales in her favour against Aston Dee Bee in Saturday night's third semi-final (race six) of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Classic at Wentworth Park.
Up Hill Jill (pictured, white rug), seeking a place in her sixth group race final, has box one, while Aston Dee Bee has box four.
“I'll admit Aston Dee Bee is a bit quicker than my greyhound but Up Hill Jill's box one draw gives her a great opportunity to advance to the final,” Geall said.
“She will stay reasonably close to the fence at the first turn while Aston Dee Bee has drawn the middle, in box four.
“Up Hill Jill pulled up well after her heat win and she had a hard run on Tuesday, a light gallop Wednesday, and another solid hit-out the following day.
“That is her normal routine between races so it is all systems go.”
Aston Dee Bee overcame trouble to win his heat in 29.93 - slightly quicker than Up Hill Jill’s time of 29.97 - but is a wide runner and has drawn between handy duo Cosmic Vintage and Swift Rain on Saturday night.
Lucky Chap, whose 29.56 heat win was the second fastest 520m time at Wentworth Park this year, has drawn box seven in the first semi-final (race four).
“He has drawn really well,” Lucky Chap’s trainer Anthony Azzopardi said.
“Lucky Chap had box eight in his heat and he handles wide draws beautifully. He pulled up in terrific shape after his heat win and this week has only been getting free galloping.
“Lucky Chap is naturally strong at the finish so I am keeping him nice and fresh for Saturday night to ensure he retains the early zip he showed last week.”
Lucky Chap's toughest opponent looks to be Chase">Chase The Cash, who was desperately unlucky when third in Central Bark's slowest heat.
Chase The Cash had box six last week and lost all chance when badly hampered at the first turn by a wide runner.
The greyhound has won her only race from box one and has drawn the rails again.
“When I saw the draw I let out a big cheer,” Chase The Cash's trainer Craig Watt said.
“She was pushed wide all around the first bend in her heat but from box one she should get a clear run through that corner.”
Mister Twister, who had box seven when trapped outside wide running Charrua at the first turn before finishing second to that greyhound in his heat, has drawn ideally in box one in the second semi final (race five).
And Mister Twister, who has won two of his four races wearing the red rug, is set to get a saloon passage along the rails as Charrua has drawn box two this week.
Also set to start a hot favourite after drawing box one is Patch Adam in the fourth semi-final (race seven).
Patch Adam had box six in his heat but after bungling the jump he crossed to the rails and surged along the inside from fourth on the back straight to win comfortably in 29.96. But Patch Adam had box one when he won in 29.55 at Wentworth Park on April 5, and no greyhound has gone quicker at headquarters in 2017.
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