Fastest qualifier My Redeemer will need to begin fast from box eight if he is to repeat his heat winning performance in Saturday night's first semi-final of the Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Classic at Wentworth Park.
That's the opinion of trainer David Geall, who had been hoping to see My Redeemer exit an inside draw in the Group 1 520m event.
My Redeemer had box two when he trailed Chief's Sidekick to the home turn before winning his heat by a length in 29.93, fastest time of the night.
Although My Redeemer has won from wide draws, six and eight, at Sandown and The Meadows, Geall believes greyhounds face a tougher task to do so at Wentworth Park.
"I don't like the extreme outside at Wenty, although My Redeemer is gradually learning to handle himself when he draws wide,'' Geall said.
"His older half-sister Up Hill Jill wanted an inside box early in her career but with experience she became adept at coping with outside draws.''
Hardest for My Redeemer to beat could be Zipping Mitzy, who had box six when a distant third in Pure Project's 30.32 heat.
Zipping Mitzy jumped well last week but was checked at the first turn and after being pushed back to sixth at the half-way mark, rattled home to snare the minor prizemoney.
She had recorded a blistering 29.68 when she began cleanly to lead throughout at her Wentworth Park debut on May 18 and if she steps away well on Saturday is going to be hard to beat.
Queenslander Corykodi, trained by 84-year-old Claude Dacey, could be the improver in the first semi.
Corykodi chased Chief's Empire all the way when second, beaten two lengths in his heat, with the winner clocking 30.13.
Although Corykodi, a winner of 12 from 23 Queensland races, goes from box one last week to box five on Saturday, Dacey is unconcerned.
"Boxes don't worry Corykodi because he usually begins quickly,'' Dacey said.
"Perhaps it was because he was not familiar with the Wentworth Park starting boxes but he did not come out last week as fast as he normally does.
"Corykodi generally takes one step and then flies to the first turn so I'm hoping he can do this on Saturday night.''
With the first four across the line in Saturday's two semi-finals making the Peter Mosman final on June 16, Dacey will be banking on getting his second crack at a Group 1 Wentworth Park classic.
"I trained Double Dee Rob who led to the home turn and was caught near the finishing post by Worth Doing in the final of the 1989 National Derby at Wenty,'' Dacey said.
Beast Unleashed staged easily the best performance of the beaten division in last week's Classic heats when he finished third, beaten just over two lengths, to Elusive Wave in 30.33.
Beast Unleashed left the starting boxes around 10 lengths behind his seven rivals but is suitably positioned in box two in Saturday night's second semi-final.
Although he has not previously drawn box two, Beast Unleashed has a great record from box one, winning two of his three races from that rails trap.
Boom Victorian youngster Chief's Sidekick posted the fastest sectional figures in last week's four heats before fading to finish third to My Redeemer in the quickest time of the night.
Chief's Sidekick clocked early splits of 5.39 and 13.85 while his kennelmate and litter brother Chief's Empire led throughout to win his heat in 30.13 after clocking splits of 5.44 and 13.92.
Unfortunately for trainer Darren Brown, Chief's Sidekick and Chief's Empire have drawn alongside one another in boxes seven and eight in the second semi-final.
"I hate having two of my greyhounds drawn together like this as there is always a chance they will collide in the run to the first turn,'' Brown said.
"Chief's Sidekick and Chief's Empire drew inside boxes in their heats so while they have won from wide draws in Melbourne I am not sure how straight they will run from the boxes to the first turn at Wentworth Park.
"While Chief's Empire won his heat and Chief's Sidekick finished third, Chief's Sidekick is the quicker of the pair, he is not only faster early but stronger at the finish.''
Jeff Collerson’s Selections
Best Bet: Daisies The One (race 3)
Best Value: Knock Wave (race 1)
Quaddie
Race 5 - 2, 8, 5
Race 6 - 2, 7
Race 7 - 1, 6, 5
Race 8 - 2, 8, 1
$20 for 37.03%
