Ella Enchanted clocked the fastest Wentworth Park 520m time of 2018 when she won her heat of the Evans & Son Jewellers Ladies Bracelet on Saturday night but the box draw has thrown the final wide open.
In next Saturday night's $25,000 to the winner Group 3 at Wentworth Park, the Darren Sultana-trained Ella Enchanted, who recorded 29.48 in her heat, will start from box five.
Second fastest heat winner Miss Splendamiro, who, until Saturday, had been Wenty's fastest winner of the year, stopped the clock at 29.79 for trainer Hank Vanderburg.
But Miss Splendamiro has also drawn awkwardly in the final, getting box four.
Most favorably positioned are Victorian champion Up Hill Jill (box two), Queensland's Bikini Cloud (one) and the Tracey Kovacic-prepared Alpine Little (eight).
Up Hill Jill had no luck when second, from box seven, in Bikini Cloud's heat.
She did not begin with her usual gusto and was hampered at box rise and again at the first corner.
Alpine Little disputed the lead with Ella Enchanted to the back straight, but raced very wide from box four and was beaten nine lengths.
Bikini Cloud came from sixth at the first turn to win her heat but trainer Glenn Smith said later: "That is not her usual style of racing, she is normally up near the lead in the early stages.
"For her to come from well back to hit the front leaving the back straight and go on and win was a good effort.
"Bikini Cloud recently resumed racing after having a toe amputated but it doesn't seem to be worrying her at all, she is as good as ever.''
Ella Enchanted's owner Mark Alati said of the final: "Up Hill Jill has a terrific draw while my greyhound and Miss Splendamiro have bad boxes.
"But Ella Enchanted clocked 5.44 to the first mark tonight and if she reproduces that in the final it won't matter what box she's got, she will win.
"If Miss Splendamiro is just in front of Ella Enchanted on the back straight it will be a close go but if my bitch is sitting behind Up Hill Jill I think she would run her down.
"After all, Ella Enchanted ran home tonight in 11.50, which is almost unheard of.''
Ritza Lenny, another greyhound who has shown no ill effects of losing a toe, led throughout in Saturday night's Free-For-All, holding out a determined Audi Key to score by a length in his personal best Wentworth Park 520m figures of 29.59.
Blazin' Carter, once "desperate'' for an inside draw, handled box eight with ease to lead throughout in a fourth and fifth grade, clocking 29.90 for the 520m.
That was Blazin' Carter's best time and prompted Jeff Eaton, whose wife Carole owns and trains the greyhound, to remark: "I didn't expect him to lead at the first turn.
"I thought Miss Vee, who has terrific pace and had box one, would be in front of Carter early but was hoping our dog could get around her on the back straight.
"As he has gained maturity Blazin' Carter has learned to cope with outside boxes, he can win from anywhere now.''
Most successful trainer on Saturday was the in-form Robbie Tyler, who won with Sashay and with new kennel acquisition Modus Operandi.
Box draw for next Saturday's Ladies Bracelet final is 1 Bikini Cloud 2 Up Hill Jill 3 Ariya 4 Miss Splendamiro 5 Ella Enchanted 6 Splendiferous 7 Big Butters 8 Alpine Little with reserves Paddy's Pearl and Slingshot Gypsy.
See you next week!
