Her near record sectional times make her favourite ahead of fastest qualifier Slick but Up Hill Jill's trainer David Geall is concerned about his champion's box five draw in Saturday night's Group 1 Ladbrokes Paws Of Thunder final at Wentworth Park (race 8, 520m).
Queenslander Slick won his 520m heat in 29.67 while Up Hill Jill's 29.74 was clearly second quickest of the eight heats.
But Up Hill Jill (pictured), a winner of 31 from 58 races, posted splits of 5.31, 13.64 and 17.74 while Slick took 5.48, 13.80 and 17.89 for the early sections of his race.
Three years ago Estranged set Wentworth Park's first split record of 5.23 and the great Fernando Bale the third split standard of 17.74 but with tracks prepared for speed at that time Up Hill Jill's sectionals last week were equally as impressive.
"I don't mind box five so much, I just wish Raw Ability was not drawn alongside Jill in box four,'' Geall said.
"When Raw Ability had box four in the Melbourne Cup on November 24 he veered wide and collided with Up Hill Jill, who had drawn five, putting her out of the race.
"So Jill will need to come out as quickly in the final as she did in her heat.
"But she pulled up perfectly and despite the long trip back to Victoria last Sunday, by Monday morning Up Hill Jill was her old self, tossing her blanket up in the air and playing and bouncing around in her kennel.''
Slick made full use of box six to lead throughout in his heat but while he is regarded as a wide runner trainer John Mccarthy is happy with his box two draw in the Thunder final.
"Two is Slick's favourite box at our home track, Albion Park, and he has won seven of his 10 races from that draw,'' Mccarthy said.
"I won the Queensland Derby with Dagenham in the early 1990s and took out the same race with Slick's litter brother Rather Dapper last year but Slick is the best I have trained.
"Since his Thunder heat win he has had a gallop up my straight track on Tuesday morning and that will top him off perfectly for Saturday night's final.''
The Paws Of Thunder looks a match between Up Hill Jill and Slick but after drawing box one Fanta Bale will dominate betting on Saturday night's other big race, the Group 2 Summer Plate final (race 6, 720m).
Fanta Bale notched her 38th win in 57 starts when she came from behind to win her heat last week in 42.62, while Packey Keeping won the other heat in 42.39.
Despite the disparity in heat times Fanta Bale is expected to win the final, as she had box five in her heat and after being fourth at the first turn, did not reach the lead until near the home bend.
Fanta Bale is usually a front-running stayer and trainer Robert Britton was delighted when she drew the rails in the Plate run-off.
Fanta Bale has won seven of her eight races from box one and with slow beginner Bolt Like Bekim in box two, should have no trouble adopting her pet role of being the pacemaker.
Scott Keeping, who chased Fanta Bale home last week, looms as her toughest rival, as owner Shayne Stiff has always considered him superior to his litter brother Packey Keeping.
Consolation race for greyhounds missing out on qualifying for the Paws Of Thunder is the $15,000 to the winner The Collerson, where Canya Ayden's rails draw gives him a great chance (race 5, 520m).
Bought last year for only $3000, Canya Ayden is trained by Glen McKinley, a former Group 1 winning NEW ZEALAND thoroughbred trainer.
Canya Ayden bungled the start and came from midfield to finish second in Slick's fastest Thunder heat last week, and the move from box four to the rails this week gives him strong claims.
Jeff Collerson’s Selection’s
Best Bet Fanta Bale (race 6)
Best Value Canya Ayden (race 5)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 1, 2, 7
Race 6 - 1, 7, 2
Race 7 - 1, 5, 4
Race 8 - 5, 2
$20 for 37.03%
