Ebby Ripper is set to be strongly favoured to lower one of Australia's longest standing track records when she contests the 790m Richmond Marathon on September 28.
Programmed to coincide with the club's regional final of the Million Dollar Chase, the Marathon seems certain to result in the demise of the record, set by Lansvale Fire on June 10, 2005.
Lansvale Fire, trained at Nowra by Paul Cherry, established the 790m Richmond record of 46.65sec and was a remarkable long-distance dog.
His roster of marathon wins also included successes over 857m at Richmond, 901m at Canberra and 959m at Wentworth Park.
The Richmond Marathon, with an $8000 to the winner purse, is certain to attract a classy line-up, headlined by Ebby Ripper but also likely to draw an interstate entry or two.
Ebby Ripper is closing in on the $250,000 mark, with her current earnings standing at $247,364 from 25 wins and 33 placings from 86 starts.
Two of her possible Marathon rivals, Kihael Road and Kanzan, clash over 618m at Richmond on Friday night.
Kihael Road, who defeated Ebby Ripper over 717m at Richmond on August 25 in a sizzling 41.96sec, is ideally positioned in box one and has clocked 35.32 over the shorter trip at the Londonderry track.
Kanzan's personal best 618m time is slightly quicker at 35.31 and she is another candidate for the marathon event.
But Poco Dorado, the NSW representative in the recent Crocmedia National Distance Championship at Sandown, is unlikely to tackle the 790m journey according to trainer John Finn.
Another non-starter will be Sherbini, who would be suited by the trip as she is only beginning to "warm up'' at the end of 720m at Wentworth Park.
"Unfortunately Sherbini is out of action with an injury at the moment,'' trainer Mark Gatt said.
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Snug's trainer Darren Russell is hoping for a fast, dry track at Lismore's Ladbrokes Park on Tuesday night.
Snug notched her 18th win when she led throughout in her heat of the Million Dollar Chase there on Tuesday night but although she recorded the fastest time for the 520m of 30.04sec, she was tiring near the finish line.
"The track was a bog on the rails where she was so I am hoping for a quick surface in the final,'' Russell said.
Snug, a brilliant front-runner who is not suited by a heavy track, will be all the rage on Tuesday as she has drawn ideally in box one.
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Cowra trainer Rod McDonald, who landed four winners at Goulburn last week, will transport a dozen greyhounds to the meeting there Thursday.
"I will bring them in an eight dog trailer and with my van able to take another six, I will be close to capacity for Goulburn,'' McDonald said.
"If I had to nominate one of my runners as my best chance I would go for Hide The Kitty, who is ideally drawn in box one in race four, a 350m fifth grade.
"She has been knocking on the door for a win and gets her chance at Goulburn.''
Hide The Kitty has not won since scoring at Canberra in November but has since been placed on 15 occasions.
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Cash Point will miss Tuesday's regional final of the Million Dollar Chase at Ladbrokes Park after being outed for failing to pursue the lure keenly in last night's Lismore heat.
Cash Point came from seventh on the back straight to finish second to fastest heat winner, Queensland's Snug, who covered the 520m on a wet track in 30.04sec.
"He is one fast dog so I am obviously disappointed Cash Point won't be able to contest the final,'' trainer Robert Cooke said.
"I'm not sure what I will do with him now but there is the option of starting Cash Point in one of the Million Dollar Chase heats at Wentworth Park.''
