Being the early leader is a huge advantage of big race finals and on semi-final sectional times Black Opium has a second-to-none chance of setting the pace in Friday night's final of the TAB Million Dollar Chase.
In last week's semis Black Opium rocketed out of box three and covered the 520m in 29.46s, leading throughout.
Get It Gizmo set the semi-final time standard of 29.45s but while his run home time was a powerhouse 11.49s, his second and third splits of 13.89s and 17.96s were well outside Black Opium's figures.
Black Opium's middle sections were 13.72s and 17.88s while her first split was a blistering 5.38s, .07s quicker than the next best opener of 5.45s, recorded by Good Odds Harada.
Jason Thompson, trainer of Black Opium, said: "I am very happy with box five, that is usually a good draw at Wentworth Park.
"That was the box we wanted but now Black Opium has to use it, hopefully by coming out like she did in last week's semi-final.
"Previously when she has nailed the start like that she has repeated that sort of fast getaway at her next couple of runs.''
Black Opium deserves to win a group one final as she has been runner-up in Victoria's two biggest finals.
She Chased home My Redeemer in the Melbourne Cup at Sandown in November and finished second to Dyna Patty in the Australian Cup at The Meadows in March.
Her owners, Melbourne businessmen Serge and Bill Buccilli, owned Azkaban, who reached the inaugural 2018 Million Dollar Chase final but could manage only fifth position to Mystic Riot.
They were also part-owners, with trainer Jason Thompson and his wife Seona of Black Magic Opal, who took out the 2013 Melbourne Cup and is the sire of Black Opium.
One of Black Opium's toughest rivals on Friday night is likely to be Shima Shine, the 23 months old baby of the field who scored his ninth win in 11 starts in his semi-final.
Shima Shine won his semi-final in 29.60s from box eight but has drawn awkwardly in box six in the Chase final.
His trainer Andrea Dailly prepared the mighty Fernando Bale, Australia's best sprinter of the past decade, and her husband Tom rates Shima Shine in the same class.
"It is impossible to compare them because Fernando Bale was a 'get out and go' dog while Shima Shine is not a flash beginner,'' Tom Dailly said.
"But he has a huge motor and his semi-final win was an amazing performance.
"Shima Shine got 'clobbered' by another dog soon after the start and did well to reach the lead rounding the first turn.
"He is not well drawn in the final and could be in a bit of trouble early, but anything can happen once the lids lift.
"If Shima Shine gets a clear run his opponents will know he is there.''
Blue Moon Rising looks to have a mortgage on the $100,000 to the winner Sydney Cup Final.
The John Finn-trained dog is a box one specialist and will wear the red rug after overcoming box six to win his 720m heat last Friday in 41.65s, .42s faster than the next best time posted by Boom Down.
In Friday night's other $100,000 to the winner event, the Masters Meteor Final, last year's runner-up Springcreek Bill should relish his box one draw according to trainer Donna Campbell.
"It's incredible that the 2018 Masters Meteor placegetters Cosmic Bonus, Springcreek Bill and Blabba Mouth have qualified for the final again, even though they are real veterans now,'' Campbell said.
"Box one should enable Springcreek Bill to find a couple of lengths although if Blabba Mouth comes out as quickly as he has been jumping lately he will be awfully hard to beat.
"Springcreek Bill trialled well over 400m at Dapto on Monday and is going as well as he was in 2018.''
Campbell is the only trainer to qualify with two finalists in the Masters Meteor, with her other starter Kroes, who has box seven, a good chance of being the early leader.
"Kroes absolutely 'flew' in her trial at Dapto on Monday but the hard 520m run at Wenty might pull her up,'' Campbell said.
"But who knows, if she is out in front and there is a mix-up behind her she could scramble home.''
Best Bet Blue Moon Rising (race 8)
Best Value Black Opium (race 9)
Quaddie race 5 - 8, 7, 3
race 6 - 1, 5, 4
race 7 - 6, 8, 4
race 8 - 1, 6
$20 for 37.03%
