Moving from box four in his heat to box one in the final and the experience gained through competing in a field for the first Time makes slowest qualifier Irinka Milo the one to beat in tonight's Ladbrokes Maiden Final at Wentworth Park (race 5, 520m).
The Ray Smith-trained greyhound had not raced against a complete lineup of dogs when he overcame box four and a severe check at the start to win his heat last week in 30.67.
Irinka Milo had made only one previous public appearance, winning a two dog trial over 520m at Bathurst in a fast 30.06 on December 18.
He is ideally drawn on the rails, especially as fastest heat winner Winsome Money, who stopped the clock at 30.53, has box two.
Winsome Money made full use of box eight last Wednesday but is likely to move wide from his inside draw in the final.
Blocker Tifia, fastest qualifier for tonight's Bulli To Wenty Final will go into the race "cold'' without having seen the Wentworth Park course (race 2, 520m).
Blocker Tifia led throughout to win his 472m heat at Bulli in a smart 26.37 but trainer CHRIS O'Brien said he has been unable to trial the dog at headquarters.
"I had intended to bring Blocker Tifia to Wenty last week for a hit-out but it was a searingly hot day and I didn't want to knock the dog about by bringing him all the way from Nowra to Sydney,'' O'Brien said.
"I don't think the lack of Wentworth Park experience will be a disadvantage because Blocker Tifia is a 'jump out and run' greyhound with plenty of early speed.
"And while he has box four, Blocker Tifia has a good record from squeeze draws.''
Lagoon Rhett, who was a half-length second in Blocker Tifia's heat, looms as the danger again.
Lagoon Rhett has been unplaced in two Wentworth Park starts but he did break 30.00 in a solo trial at headquarters as an unraced youngster, and when he finished second to Blocker Tifia at Bulli, Lagoon Rhett was having his first start in four months.
Fascinate Joan, unlucky when placed in three of seven Wentworth Park races, gets her chance from box three in tonight's Gosford To Wentworth Park Final (race 4, 520m).
Fascinate Joan is tipped to battle out the finish with Dreaming Time, box two.
Dreaming Time overcame a poor start to win her Gosford heat in 30.21 while Fascinate Joan's 29.86 was the quickest Time.
"Fascinate Joan has not had a trial since she won at Gosford on January 12 but is fit enough and ready to go,'' trainer Peter Mattress said.
"When she won her Gosford heat she was backing up after winning there three nights earlier.
"Because she had a couple of races close together I did not want to knock her about by giving her another run before the Wenty final.
"I am happy with box three because although Fascinate Joan had box eight in her heat win at Gosford, I prefer to see her drawn as close to the rails as possible.''
Best value bet tonight should be Bad Boy Joe, who has box eight in a fourth and fifth grade race (race 6, 520m).
Bad Boy Joe is unbeaten in two races from box eight and as the winner of four Wentworth Park races looks well placed tonight.
Jeff Collerson’s Selection’s
Best Bet Irinka Milo (Race 5)
Best Value Bad Boy Joe (Race 6)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 1, 2
Race 6 - 8, 4, 3
Race 7 - 1, 8, 2
Race 8 - 5, 4, 8
$20 for 37.03%
