Trainer Jason MACKAY has ranked Zipping Bailey the equal of her dam, the mighty Zipping WILLOW, on the eve of Saturday night's Group 3 Evans & Son Ladies Bracelet final at Wentworth Park.
Zipping Bailey, who staged a last-to-first performance to win last month's Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg, is all the rage for the Bracelet after again overcoming a slow start to win her Bracelet heat last week in 29.59sec.
Second fastest qualifier, the brilliant beginner Good Odds Meghan, took 29.86 for the 520m, so MACKAY's greyhound has the equivalent of just on four lengths over her nearest rival.
Zipping WILLOW won the 2014 Ladies Bracelet for MACKAY in race record time of 29.44s, far and away the quickest in the 48 year history of the bitches classic.
She won 34 of 53 races, most of them at Wentworth Park, from May, 2013, to Boxing Day, 2015, and understandably MACKAY doubted he would ever train a bitch to compare with her.
"Zipping Bailey is fast like her mother but the complete opposite in racing style, as WILLOW would jump and run, posting brilliant sectional times.
"But where Zipping WILLOW was not overly strong at the finish, Bailey is always last to leave the boxes but is a powerhouse finisher.
"She ran home in an incredible 11.39 last week at Wenty so just needs to reproduce her past couple of performances to be hard to beat again on Saturday night, despite drawing box five.''
Hardest for Zipping Bailey to catch are likely to be the front-running duo Good Odds Meghan (box three) and Zombie (box four).
Good Odds Meghan recorded quickest first split of 5.47 in her Bracelet heat but Zombie is capable of similar figures if she begins better than she did last week.
Zombie can be a "lid pinger'' but dwelt slightly at box rise in her heat before assuming control at the first turn, only to be comfortably run down by Zipping Bailey.
Jamella Jet, runner-up in last year's GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase and winner of the Group 2 Ambrosoli, should land a well-deserved big race by taking out Saturday night's group 3 Bob Payne Sprint Final, 520m.
Jamella Jet will wear the red rug for the first time in 25 starts, after leading from the first turn to win his heat last week from box four in 29.64, fastest time of the series.
Adam Crouch, whose father Andrew trains Jamella Jet, said: "A lot of people believe our dog wants an outside box but I think he has drawn nicely on Saturday night.
"Sunburnt Highway and Kiarni Tiger, who have boxes two and three, should hold their line in the run to the first turn and if they do, that should give Jamella Jet a reasonably clear run.
"It was pleasing to see Jamella Jet begin better in his heat last week so if he comes out cleanly again he should be hard to beat.
"He pulled up well after his heat win so is ready to go.''
Best bets on Saturday night should be the John Finn-trained Blue Summer Sky, who has box three in race nine, a 520m fifth grade, and Elusive Wave, who will exit box two in race one, another fifth grade over 520m.
The Vic Sultana-trained Elusive Wave showed good early speed before finishing third, beaten just under six lengths, in Zipping Bailey's Ladies Bracelet heat last week and should relish the huge drop in class on Saturday night.
Blue Summer Sky finished third over 472m at Bulli on Monday night but will appreciate stepping up in distance in Saturday's race.
While he was beaten just under four lengths at Bulli, Blue Summer Sky is a strong finishing railer who is better suited on a tight track like WP than he is on the roomy stretches at Bulli.
Blue Summer Sky lacks early speed but with just six rivals on Saturday night, should find himself in a winning position on the back straight.
Best Bet Elusive Wave (race 1)
Best Value Blue Summer Sky (race 9)
Quaddie race 5 - 1, 4, 7
Race 6 - 8, 3, 2
Race 7 - 5, 3, 4
Race 8 - 5, 2
$20 for 37.03%
