Irinka Milo was slowest of the three heat winners but an inside draw could see the Ray Smith-trained rookie sent out favourite for Wednesday night's $5000 to the winner Ladbrokes Maiden Final at Wentworth Park.
In last Wednesday's heats, Winsome Money set the standard with an all-the-way win in 30.53, with Benkennie Chic covering the 520m in 30.56 and Irinka Milo stopping the clock at 30.76.
Tomorrow's box draw will play a particularly crucial role as the heat winners, along with impressive runners-up Let's Win Billy and Simply Toby, comprise an evenly matched lineup of potential stars.
Irinka Milo had box four in his heat but missed the jump and was severely hampered soon after by a wide runner.
After being a distant fourth on the back straight and third on the home turn, Irinka Milo surged between rivals in the straight to win running away by two lengths.
Trainer Ray Smith's wife Maree said later: "That run was really encouraging because it was only the third time Irinka Milo had been tested beyond 500 metres.
"And he had never previously been in a full field, something that can be daunting for a young dog.''
Benkinnie Chic's trainer Peter Mantach is also hoping for an inside box in the final, saying: "She is a dead-set railer so although she won her heat from box six I want box one next Wednesday.''
Benkennie Chic clocked a slick 30.18 in a 520m performance trial at Dapto on September 21 but the launch of her career was delayed when she came in season.
"After her seasonal spell Benkennie Chic was too heavy and I could not get the weight off her,'' Mantach said.
"When she ran that fast time at Dapto in September she was 30.6kg but her weighed had soared to 31.7kg when she ran slow time in a performance trial at Bulli on December 16.
"I finally got the weight off her and when she won her Wenty heat she was back down to where she should be, at 30.5kg.''
Winsome Money, who was having his first race for two months when he clocked fastest heat time, is prepared by multiple group winning trainer John Finn and is bred in the purple.
"Winsome Money's dam Winsome Amanda came back to win at Wenty Park in November, 2016, after producing a litter of pups,'' Finn said.
Winsome Amanda's litter brothers included Winsome Jacko, who broke the track record at Maitland at his first start and Winsome Mission, a Wentworth Park top grader who won 27 races.
Let's Win Billy, runner-up to Winsome Money, and Simply Toby, who chased home Irinka Milo, are tipped to improve in the final.
Let's Win Billy, who had been placed in four of five provincial starts before last Wednesday, was a gift to owner-trainer Bradley Barnes.
"He broke in well for his breeder Clay Mullens but after pre-training Let's Win Billy hurt his wrist.
"After that he was wasn't going any good so he was given to me for nothing.
"I managed to fix the wrist and was rapt in his heat run because Let's Win Billy had never set foot on Wentworth Park before.''
Simply Toby lost all chance in his heat when he veered off the track after being the pacemaker at the first turn.
The Peter Rodgers-trained greyhound balanced up and retained the lead until near the home bend, eventually finishing two lengths behind Irinka Milo.
"I could not believe Simply Toby ran off like that because he usually hugs the rails,'' Rodgers said later.
"He has had a couple of trials at Wenty so it wasn't as if he did not know where he was going but maybe he got wide due to pressure from dogs on his outside.
"Even though he veered off in his heat, I still want box one for Simply Toby in the final.''
