TRAINER Jason Magri's decision to target the group 3 New Sensation rather than the more valuable but far tougher group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg is set to pay off with King Cratos boxed to win tomorrow night's final at Wentworth Park.
In the heats held at Wentworth Park on April 10, King Cratos zoomed over the 520m in 29.67s, figures bettered only by Nangar Diva, who won in 29.55s.
But while Nangar Diva, who has won six from 13 starts, has drawn awkardly in box five in the final, King Cratos has a near ideal box two draw.
Feral Franky, who came from last to win his heat from box one in 29.75s, has drawn the rails again but is a notoriously slow beginner.
"King Cratos looks to have a good draw and if he comes out of the boxes as quickly as he did in his heat he should go close to winning,'' trainer Jason Magri said.
King Cratos has won seven of his 10 races but while he had the talent to be competitive against all-comers in the $250,000 to the winner Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg, Magri opted to tackle the $25,000 for first New Sensation.
The New Sensation, which has been held only since 2013, is for youngsters whelped on or after November 17, 2016, and who have not won more than 10 from a maximum of 20 races at time of nomination.
Saturday night is shaping as a big night for Greek owners and trainers as King Cratos is owned by George Marras, while Peter Lagogiane and Peter Akathiotis, trainers of top Easter Egg hopes Federal Lilly and Blue Striker, are also of Greek heritage.
George Marras, who bought King Cratos for $3000 at three months of age from breeder Simon Gafa, is a Sydney businessman but grew up around greyhounds in the NSW Northern Rivers.
"My late father Tony lived at Yorklea, and trained dogs like Yorklea Dancer and Yorklea Queen, who between them won 26 races from 2004 to 2006,'' Marras said.
"I got out of greyhounds for a long while to establish my business of importing motor vehicle tyres and wheels, but the sport was always in my blood.
"I used to bring in a tyre brand called Cratos and as that name also meant strength in Greek mythology, it seemed a natural for my greyhound.''
Cee Jay's Boy's box eight draw in the New Sensation is suitable according to his trainer Ron Marsden, a retired truck driver.
"I was hoping for box one or eight and while Cee Jay's Boy begins better from inside boxes, he drifts to the middle of the track so the extreme outside is okay,'' Marsden said.
"He has terrific early pace but his run-home time worries me as he is not terribly strong at the finish of 520m.''
Like King Cratos and Nangar Diva, Cee Jay's Boy boasts an impressive strike rate, having won 11 of 19 races.
