Smooth Act clocked only 5.51s to the first mark before covering the Wentworth Park 520m in a slick 29.80s in a solo trial last Saturday night but is capable of producing quick initial splits.
That's the opinion of trainer Bob Cooke, who said Smooth Act jumps faster when he does not get "worked up'' just before the start.
"That is why I won't be taking Smooth Act out for the pre-race stir-up before Friday night's fifth semi-final of the TAB Million Dollar Chase,'' Cooke said.
"When he trialled last Saturday I was standing behind the 520m boxes with him waiting for his turn and I could see him getting very excited about having a run.
"If I take Smooth Act to a trial track and put him Immediately into the starting boxes, he is capable of jumping smartly and clocking brilliant first splits.
"When I trial him at Lismore Smooth Act can run 4.40 to the first mark, and not many greyhounds can do that.''
Cooke gave Smooth Act a hit-out up the straight yesterday (Tuesday) because that is how he always trains the dog.
"My training mentor was Billy Northfield, the father of leading Northern Rivers trainers Charlie and Mitch Northfield,'' Cooke said.
"Billy always advised me to work out what training routine suits each day and then stick with it.
"His advice was that it did not matter whether your dog was in a low grade or a big race, you should never change anything in the lead-up to the event.
"I am rapt to see Smooth Act in box one in Friday night's TAB Million Dollar Chase semi, now all he has to do is to make full use his good draw.''
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Smooth Act's 29.80s effort, which included a fast second split of 13.87s, was quickest of five solo trials by Million Dollar Chase semi-finalists at WP last Saturday night.
WA's National Sprint Championship winner Premium Share, in the care of Victorian trainer Jeff Britton for the Chase series, clocked 29.89 with sectional times of 5.45, 13.86 and 18.04.
Victorian trainer Debbie Coleman's Immediate recorded 30.03s after posting sectionals of 5.47, 14.01 and 18.12 while her partner Rob Camilleri's Zipping Norton ran 5.46, 13.95 and 18.09 before stopping the clock at 30.12s.
There's A Catch, from Heathcote (Victoria) trainer Ray Henness' kennels, clocked 5.51, 13.96 and 18.13 before covering the 520m in 30.21s.
Most impressive of that quartet was Immediate, who appeared to "get lost'' going through the first turn and should be vastly improved by his first WP experience.
Immediate is capable of dazzling early sections as when he won his heat of the Goulburn Million Dollar Chase last month he sped over the 440m in near record time of 24.61 after clocking a sizzling opening split of 5.58s.
On Friday Premium Share has box seven in the fifth semi-final while Zipping Norton, Immediate and There's A Catch have boxes one, five and six respectively in the sixth semi.
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BUCK's Future is arguably the "forgotten'' dog of the TAB Million Dollar Chase but the winner of this year's group 1 Paws Of Thunder is ready to run the race of his life in Friday night's fourth Chase semi-final.
Buck's Future led until half-way down the straight when run down and beaten a neck by Feral Franky at WP on September 28 and trained Syd Swain believes that race has "topped his dog off perfectly'' for Friday night.
"That was the first time Buck's Future had been on the bunny and in front for quite a while and that race will have done him the world of good,'' Swain said.
"He is right at his best now, as good if not better than when he won the Paws Of Thunder.
"Buck's Future is now three years and two months old and I have always said most greyhounds do not reach their peak until they turn three.
"He is a good railer and keen Chaser so from box one on Friday I expect him go close to winning.''
