Sydneysider Mr. Pupparazzi will cap an astonishing string of coincidences if he can win Thursday night's Group 3 South Australian Derby at Angle Park.
The Charlie Riccio-trained greyhound won his 515m heat last Thursday in 30.03, after coming from box three.
Mr. Pupparazzi, who had trialled 30.24 at the track five days earlier, has drawn box eight in the $25,000 to the winner final.
Riccio named the greyhound after his dearest friend, the late George Cliff, a show business and greyhound racing photographer.
Cliff published a weekly portfolio of his racetrack photos in a greyhound racing journal under the "Mr. Pupparazzi'' byline.
"When George was sick I promised to name a good greyhound after him and this dog was born on September 21, 2015, the day George passed away,'' Riccio said.
"Mr. Pupparazzi is in the most important race of his life on Thursday, yet, incredibly, the date is once again September 21!
"I will concede my greyhound faces a tough task because the Jeff Britton-trained Mepunga Blazer, from Victoria, won his heat Derby in 29.25, not far outside the great Brett Lee's course record.''
While Riccio would have preferred an inside box with Mr. Pupparazzi, he believes the extreme outside is preferable to having the greyhound drawn in the middle of the field.
"After all, anything can happen now he has made the final,'' Riccio said.
"Luke Adams, who works for Sydney trainer Jason Magri, has been caring for Mr. Pupparazzi for me during this Adelaide campaign.
"When Mr. Pupparazzi returns to NSW I will be committed to marking HSC exam papers so the dog will join Jason Magri's kennels for a short time.''
