Simon Told Helen began faster than in any of his previous 42 starts when he won his heat of the Sportsbet Dapto Megastar in near record time and trainer David Burnett is confident he will win the final if he jumps in similar fashion on Thursday night.
"He has never come out as quick as he did in his Megastar heat, that was the first time Simon Told Helen had been in front one stride after leaving the boxes,'' Burnett said.
"Although he had led all the way in most of his previous 24 wins, in some instances he has not begun brilliantly but has pushed dogs out of the way to reach the early lead.
"He pulled up well after his heat win and I'll be adopting the same routine this week, driving up from Victoria on Thursday.
"With brief stops along the way it takes me about ten-and-a-half hours but the dog handles it well.
"Even though he had not trialled there I thought he would like Dapto and for me the Megastar was a better option than a race like the Hobart Thousand.
"His form on horse-shoe shaped tracks like Hobart and Ballarat is nowhere near as good as it is on tight courses like Dapto.''
Burnett, a keen race watcher, said he doubts Simon Told Helen and Sydney's sensational puppy Flying Ricciardo will worry each other at box rise.
"Although we have box one and Flying Ricciardo has drawn two, I have never seen Kristy Sultana's dog crash to the left so I expect both greyhounds to run in a straight line,'' Burnett added.
Blue Thunda won her first nine races and retired after winning 18 of 23 starts but she is even better as a brood bitch.
John Miles' bonny matron is the dam of super short course duo Laurie's Flyer, who won his 20th race from 33 appearances last Wednesday at Wentworth Park, and Blue Bronte who fell at Wenty on September 2 but has since had six wins and a second from seven starts.
Laurie's Flyer and Blue Bronte were whelped in March, 2018, from the mating of Fernando Bale with Blue Thunda and between them have earned over $97,000.
Blue Bronte continued the amazing family consistency by winning at LADBROKES GARDENS on Friday, covering the 400m in 22.38 and taking her record to 27 wins from 35 outings.
"These days Laurie's Flyer is slightly quicker early while Blue Bronte is now the stronger of the pair at the finish,'' Miles said.
"Not long ago I had a bit of trouble with Laurie's Flyer cramping so have restricted him to shorter races recently while Blue Bronte is handling 400m comfortably.''
