Zipping Mitzy might be the most talented but Modus Operandi and Nangar Blaze have the box draws to fill the quinella in Saturday night's Ladbrokes Christmas Gift final at Wentworth Park.
Zipping Mitzy, whose personal best Wentworth Park 520m time of 29.52sec is by far the quickest among the Group 3 finalists, has box six, while Modus Operandi (pictured) and Nangar Blaze have drawn one and two respectively.
Rob Tyler, trainer of Modus Operandi, considers Nangar Blaze the dog to beat and his trainer Mick Hardman rates Tyler's greyhound his toughest rival.
"Zipping Mitzy is the best greyhound in the final but she is going to need luck from box six,'' Hardman said.
"From box one I think Modus Operandi is the one to beat but Nangar Blaze also has a good draw and trialled better than he has ever gone when I put him up the Appin 366m straight course on Tuesday.
"He defeated his litter brother and kennelmate Nangar Kash by three lengths, yet previously when I have trialled them together at Appin, Nangar Kash has always finished in front.''
Modus Operandi's trainer Rob Tyler said: "There is not a lot between my dog and Nangar Blaze so Modus will need to jump cleanly if he is going to hold his rival out in the run to the first turn.
"My only concern is that Modus Operandi can dwell at the start but he has been beginning well in his recent races so I can only hope he steps away smartly on Saturday night.''
In last week's heats Nangar Blaze took the lead at the half-way mark before defeating Zipping Mitzy by just under a length in 29.85sec, Queenslander Femme Folle led throughout in 29.97sec, Dynamo's Double ran down Modus Operandi by a head in 29.99sec and My Mate Fox won in 30.12sec after exiting box two.
My Mate Fox's trainer Peter Barnes was disappointed when his greyhound drew box eight while Zipping Mitzy's trainer Jason Magri declared: "She is going to have to come out fast from box six.''
Femme Folle, who held out Off The Leash in her heat, is trained by Queensland jockey Nathan Evans, who has ridden over 400 winners but trains greyhounds as a hobby.
Evans has held a trainer's licence for just over a year but is keen to pursue a full-time career with greyhounds when he retires from race riding.
Dynamo's Double faces a tough task from box four due to her tendency to bungle the start.
Zipping Mitzy has drawn poorly but her kennelmate and litter brother Zipping Falcon is nicely boxed in two in race five, the Merry Xmas Grandpa Joe Stakes, 520m.
Zipping Falcon was unplaced from box eight at Wentworth Park last week but has won four of seven starts from the two inside traps and his personal best 520m time of 29.60sec is many lengths quicker than the quickest figures posted by any of his opponents on Saturday.
Sunburnt Opal went into her first race at Wentworth Park on December 5 without the benefit of a trial on the track but she handled herself perfectly, running down Sahalee to win narrowly in a tidy 30.13sec.
Before the race John Richardson, whose wife Judy trains Sunburnt Opal, said: "She has improved immensely over the past few weeks but we have not had a chance to give her a look at Wenty.
"So whatever she does tonight Sunburnt Opal should improve upon.''
Nangar Blaze's trainer Mick Hardman will unveil his new acquisition About The South to Wentworth Park fans in Saturday's Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes, 520m, believing the race will determine the greyhound's potential.
"Since About The South came into my kennels he has trialled extremely well on three occasions at Wentworth Park, but in his only two race starts for me, at Bathurst, he has been beaten,'' Hardman said.
"He ran a reasonable race when second on November 26 but after he hit the running rail in a Soldiers Saddle semi-final there on December 3 he failed to beat one home.
"Saturday night's race should give us an indication of whether he is a race dog or just a trial dog.''
Best Bet: Zipping Falcon (race 3)
Best Value: Sunburnt Opal (race 7)
Quaddie race 5 - 2, 1
Race 6 - 1, 2, 6
Race 7 - 1, 3
Race 8 - 2, 4, 8
$20 for 55.55%
