Queenslander Oh Mickey will strive to become only the second greyhound to win the National Derby and Richmond Derby double when he exits box eight in Friday night's $40,000 to the winner group 2 race at the Londonderry circuit.
Jagger Swagger became the only greyhound to notch the rare pair of Derby finals when he won at WP and Richmond in 2013.
Oh Mickey led throughout to win the National Derby at WP on January 24 and made the pace when a close second to Tennessee Tiger in last week's Ladbrokes Richmond Derby heat.
Eight days before the Richmond race Oh Mickey had posted a sensational 29.68 winning over 520m at Albion Park, time which was a mere .30sec outside champion Victorian sprinter Sennachie's course record.
"Those two hard runs close together took a bit out of Oh Mickey,'' owner-trainer Clint Kratzmann said.
"But he is fine now and looked his old self again when he had a solid free gallop on Tuesday morning.
"Paws Of Thunder winner King Cratos, who was the fastest Richmond Derby heat winner on 30.45, is the best dog in Friday's final.
"But Oh Mickey is in with a great chance, especially as we have drawn outside King Cratos, who has box seven.
"Early in his career Oh Mickey would have wanted to crash across to the rails from an outside alley but he has learned not to do that.
"These days he runs straight from the boxes to the first turn so I am pretty happy seeing him in box eight.
"It is certainly a lot better than being in the middle, in box five or somewhere like that.''
Queenslander Kratzmann sold a successful caravan dealership two years ago and has since concentrated on indulging in his passion for owning, and more recently, training greyhounds.
Kratzmann sent Oh Mickey to NSW central coast trainer Troy Donaldson for his successful National Derby campaign and took the dog back with him when he returned to Queensland.
"All being well I am hoping to bring Oh Mickey back to Sydney for the Golden Easter Egg heats at WP later this month,'' Kratzmann said.
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Midnight Waltz is second fastest qualifier for Friday night's group 2 Ladbrokes Richmond Oaks final and gives trainer Allen Ivers has best chance of landing a group race.
Midnight Waltz won her heat in 30.72, time bettered over the 535m only by pre-post Oaks favourite Wild Flyer, who clocked 30.43.
"I have had a couple of finalists in group races and a few in semi-finals but have not won one yet,'' Ivers said.
"Midnight Waltz has box six on Friday night but I am not unhappy with that draw because Fire On Ice, who has box five, goes fast early and usually heads for the rails.
"I secured Midnight Waltz through a friend of mine, Steve Francis, who helps me out when I am training my dogs.
"Steve bought her for around $6000 at the Coonamble spring carnival in 2018, after Midnight Waltz had a win and a second over 530m for her breeder David Pringle.
"Midnight Waltz is a litter sister to David's outstanding bitch Midnight Dare and is out of his group 1 winner Midnight Capers, so she is a valuable brood bitch further down the track.
"I think that was the main reason Steve bought her, as a future producer, but after purchasing her he sent her to Melbourne where she won four races.
"Since he brought her back to NSW and asked me to train her, Midnight Waltz has been going great, scoring three wins and four placings from her past seven starts.
"I trialled her at Richmond 10 days before she won her Oaks heat but since then I have kept her fresh, because I reckon she performs best that way.
"I have found Midnight Waltz jumps better when she is nice and fresh.''
