Heza Boherna made the early pace when second in his heat but the box draw gives him a great chance of upsetting the more fancied finalists in tomorrow night's Ladbrokes Monthly Medal at Bathurst.
That's the opinion of Young-based trainer Yvonne Gee, who expects the son of little known Irish stud dog Boherna On Air to be the pacemaker again.
In last week's heats Heza Boherna led to the back straight where powerful finisher Nangar Blaze was in second spot and proved too strong, winning by five lengths.
Nangar Blaze covered the 520m in 29.96, equal fastest heat time with Irinka Lizzy, who led throughout.
"I am very happy with Heza Boherna's box three draw and am quietly confident he can lead all the way in the final,'' the dog's trainer Gee said.
"He has good early pace and while he is not terribly strong at the finish of 520 metres, Heza Boherna could get away with an early break.''
Sentimental favourite for the Monthly Medal is Rosa Rebel, owned and trained at Portland by Bruce Gentle.
Gentle was introduced to greyhound racing 30 years ago by his wife Christine Mulholland, who was killed after being struck by a bus in the Sydney CBD in January, 2014.
"Christine just liked the look of greyhounds, so three decades back persuaded me to share with her in the purchase of our first dog,'' Gentle said.
"She trained our best greyhound, Road Rebel, who won nine races, including three at Wentworth Park, between 2006 and 2009.
"Rosa Rebel led throughout to win her Monthly Medal heat in 30.14, not far behind the other heat winners Irinka Lizzy and Nangar Blaze, but because she loves to rail I was hoping for an inside box with her.
"She has drawn seven but I believe she can improve on her heat run because she was resuming after being injured when second at Lithgow on May 9.
"Rosa Rebel was sidelined for two weeks after the Lithgow race and then had only three weeks' work to prepare her for last Monday's Bathurst heat.
"She was still not 100 per cent fit last week so with a clear run I think she has the potential to improve.''
Baby of the field at Bathurst is Irinka Lizzy, a 22 month old youngster who is chasing her sixth win in seven starts for trainer Raymond Smith.
"Box five is no help but she has plenty of early toe and it was that zip that enabled her to cross to the lead from box seven in her heat,'' Smith said.
"Last week she was having her first 520m race at Bathurst as she had only previously contested one 450m event on that track.''
Irinka Lizzy is a home-grown product for Forbes-based Smith and his wife Maree, as they owned and trained the greyhound's dam Irinka Alice.
And Maree Smith owned Irinka Lizzy's grandmother Irinka Doll, who won 10 races when trained by Raymond Smith's uncle, John Finn.
Nangar Blaze, who has drawn box four tomorrow night, is also bred in the purple, being a litter brother to Nangar Kash, a finalist in last night's Group 1 Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Classic at Wentworth Park.
The prized rails draw in the Monthly Medal has gone to Double Up Dee, owned and trained by Paul Braddon at Cowra.
"Box one definitely brings Double Up Dee in with a chance,'' Braddon said.
"When he ran third to Irinka Lizzy in his heat, Double Up Dee had box four and clipped the heels of another dog during the race, losing a length or so.
"Double Up Dee is capable of quick trials but sometimes his box manners let him down badly.''
Box draw for the Monthly Medal is 1 Double Up Dee 2 It's My Secret 3 Heza Boherna 4 Nangar Blaze 5 Irinka Lizzy 6 Let's Go Girl 7 Rosa Rebel 8 Secretly Hot with reserves 9 Credit Entry and 10 Irinka Josh.
