Miss Splendamiro is drawn to give trainer Hank Vanderburg, a 45 year veteran of the sport, his biggest win by taking out Saturday night's final of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park.
Vanderburg won the 1997 Ladies Bracelet with Oriana, the 2001 National Futurity with Queen Muffin and landed the quinella with Spanish Master and Forensic in the 1997 Richmond Derby.
But Easter Egg success has eluded him, with Vanderburg remarking: "Closest I got was finishing fourth with a dog called Soul Revival many years ago.
"I am trying not to get too excited but am extremely happy with Miss Splendamiro's box two draw.
"She would have had the job ahead if she was boxed wide but from two I think she could be sitting behind Striker Light, who has box one, on the back straight.
"Miss Splendamiro can begin better than she did when she won her semi-final last week so I have kept her on the lead this week in a bid to see her display more early zip.''
Miss Splendamiro's run home time of 11.70 was fastest of the four semi-finals so if she is trailing one of the pacemakers she should win.
Crowd favourite Up Hill Jill's trainer David Geall conceded: "My bitch will have to come out running if she is to get across to the fence from box six.
"Up Hill Jill is having no luck in big race draws as she had box five in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in late November and again in the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder on January 20.
"On form it looks like Striker Light or Up Hill Jill will lead around the first turn but Striker Light has the advantage of having box one.
"Up Hill Jill won major Group races the Topgun and the Sandown Laurels in Melbourne but I would dearly love her to win a big event in Sydney before she retires.
"She is not quite getting down to times like the 29.63 which she clocked at Wenty a year ago and these days is two or three lengths below her absolute best.
"But last week's win, when she made the pace before coming again to run down Striker Light after that greyhound headed her off, was very encouraging.''
Victorian-trained greyhounds have won the past four Group 1 Association Cups and Rippin' Sam is expected to make it five in Saturday's 720m final at Wentworth Park.
Sydney's Ebby Ripper was fastest heat winner at 42.23 but shes goes from box one to box six while Rippin' Sam, who won in 42.25 at his first Wentworth Park appearance, is ideally placed in box eight.
Pleased with their greyhounds' Cup draws are Jason MACKAY (Zipping Katelyn, box two) and Jamie Ennis (Tritt Tritt, box seven).
"Tritt Tritt begins better from wide draws so he did well to finish second from box two in Rippin' Sam's heat,'' Ennis said.
MACKAY said: "Zipping Katelyn has been clocking fast times in middle distance trials at Wenty and was having her first 720m test this year when fourth in her Cup heat from box four, which doesn't suit her as much as an inside alley.''
In other action at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, Winsome Money's box one draw should see him this brilliant front-runner to lead throughout in the Group 3 New Sensation final.
And while trainer Peter Barnes wanted box one for My Mate Fox in the Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden final, his dog won his semi from box eight and can wear the pink rug to victory again.
My Mate Fox was turned sideways by a wide running opponent in his semi-final and produced a tenacious performance to balance up again and win clearly.
Rita's Boy, who has drawn box one in the Ultra Sense final, is in such rare form he should notch his fourth consecutive Wentworth Park win.
Jeff Collerson’s Selection’s
Best Bet: Rita's Boy (Race 4)
Best Value: My Mate Fox (Race 1)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 8, 7
Race 6 - 8, 2, 7
Race 7 - 2, 1, 6
Race 8 - 8, 1, 2
$20 for 37.03%
