Sydney's Beast Unleashed is boxed to score his seventh win in eight starts by taking out tonight's $150,000 to the winner Group 2 Launching Pad at Melbourne's Sandown.
The JODIE Lagogiane-trained greyhound had to battle hard from a poor box six draw to win his 515m semi-final in 29.74 last Thursday but has drawn his favourite spot, the rails, in the final.
Beast Unleashed's two previous Sandown victories had been accomplished in slick times of 29.44 and 29.43.
NSW is also represented by Tornado Tears, trained in Melbourne by Robbie Britton for central coast owner-breeder Michael Ivers.
Tornado Tears qualified by flashing home to finish second to the Andrea Dailly-trained Dyna Patty in his semi-final but although he lacks early speed, he is suited drawn wide in box six.
Fastest semi-final winner, Victoria's Saint David, stopped the clock at a sizzling 29.31 to reach the final, but has drawn awkwardly in box five.
Saint David won only one of his first six starts but has struck form with a vengeance, having won his past four races in succession.
xxxx
When Blue Sky Riot went amiss and tailed off in a heat of the Golden Easter Egg trainer Anthony Azzopardi feared the worst.
But the breakdown of Blue Sky Riot, winner of this year's Group 1 National Futurity and Group 2 Richmond Oaks, is not as bad as it appeared on race night.
"Her main problem was a tendon injury and she will be off the scene for a few weeks but should make a successful return to racing,'' Azzopardi said.
xxxx
Rippin' Sam, trained in Victoria by Robbie Britton, is all the rage for Saturday night's Group 1 Association Cup at Wentworth Park, but NSW can take plenty of credit for the dog's stunning form.
Rippin' Sam scored his eighth win in 20 races when he came from seventh early to win his Association Cup heat at his Wentworth Park debut last Saturday, covering the 720m in 42.25.
His time was only .02sec slower than Sydney's number one stayer Ebby Ripper posted in recording her eighth Wentworth Park win in the previous heat.
Rippin' Sam's owner Shayne Williams said: "I bought this dog, and two of his siblings, as three months old puppies, purchasing them from central coast breeder Michael Ivers.
"Michael reared just one for me, Rippin' Sam, and I believe it is no coincidence that he has turned out by far the best of my three buys.
"I'm a firm believer that rearing of pups is the most important ingredient in determining their future on the track.
"It's all about feeding puppies correctly and giving them plenty of room to grow up knowing how to gallop, and Michael did a superb job in raising Rippin' Sam.''
xxxx
Crash Bandicoot, fastest heat winner and a finalist in Saturday night's Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park, has been sold.
Owner Hayley Moffitt has sold the greyhound to the Punters HQ Syndicate, but the dog will remain with current trainer Anthony Azzopardi until after the Egg final.
The Group 1 Perth Cup, to be run at Cannington on April 14 and 21, is Crash Bandicoot's post-Easter Egg mission.
