Danielle Matic, whose dog Wow is a raging hot favourite for tonight's Group 2 Ladbrokes Cyril Rowe Bulli Cup final, opted to train greyhounds despite graduating from university with an honours degree in medicinal chemistry.
Those credentials could have launched a lucrative career for Danielle as a forensic scientist, chemical engineer or analytical chemist, but she preferred to follow in the footsteps of her mother Ruth and late father Matt to become a greyhound trainer.
Wow, who overcame a slower than usual start to win his 472m heat last Sunday in 25.99, dominates betting after drawing a near perfect box seven in the final.
Wow is undefeated in four races wearing the black rug.
Trainers of each of Wow's seven rivals consider him the dog to beat while Ruth Matic has paid the greyhound the ultimate tribute by declaring him the fastest dog her family has trained.
"I won three group finals with Black Bear Lee, including the 2016 Bulli Gold Cup, but Wow is quicker,'' she said.
"He is not a foolproof beginner but can jump a lot better than he did in his heat and while everyone seems to think On The Rocks or Danielle's other finalist Poppy Jack will be the pacemakers, Wow can lead at the first turn if he gets away cleanly.''
Matic had her Hobart Thousand runner-up Hurricane Luke in Goodesy's 2000 Bulli Cup final while she also trained 1983 National Derby winner World Park Ned, Sancho, who won a record 31 races on the Appin straight track, Mountain Of Love, winner of 28 races and runner-up in the 2008 National Sprint Championship, and 2007 National Sprint Championship winner Bit Chili.
Last week's fastest Cup heat winner was Zipping Conway, who took the lead at the first turn to clock 25.97 while Mickey Doo won in 26.11.
Jason Magri, trainer of Zipping Conway, concedes Wow will be tough to beat, commenting: "My dog has got under 26sec at Bulli several times but Wow looks like getting a clear run down the outside.
"On The Rocks, who has box six and is very fast early, will get out of his way, while Mickey Doo, who has drawn eight, usually misses the start.
"Zipping Conway is not badly positioned in box three but to have any chance he has to jump fast.''
Mickey Doo's trainer Mark Davidson said: "Box eight has made it a bit tougher for us but he is better drawn there than in the middle.
"Only thing in our favour is that Mickey Doo is a young dog on the way up and he should strip fitter than he did in last week's heat when he was having his first run beyond 400m since October.''
Tachycardic finished third, beaten three lengths in Wow's heat, but her trainer Kayla-Jane COLEMAN said: "My dog has drawn one and that is the box everyone wanted.
"When he contested his heat Tachycardic was having his first start at Bulli in nearly six months so he should improve.
"Tachycardic finished third in the group 1 Dapto Megastar final in December and he handles all tracks well apart from Wentworth Park.''
One trainer not overawed by Wow is Mark Wilcox, whose dog Castle Warrior was a luckless two lenths second behind Zipping Conway in the fastest heat.
"I'm not unhappy about box four so long as Castle Warrior is left alone early,'' Wilcox said.
"He takes a couple of steps to hit top gear but has terrific speed once he gets going and with a clear run I am confident Castle Warrior can get down to 25.90 or a fraction quicker in the final.''
Donna Campbell, whose brilliant front runner On The Rocks has box six, said: "My bitch will run straight but I think she will make the race for Wow.''
Peter Lagogiane, who trained last year's Cup winner Barcia Blue Boy, has Ziggy Star in box five, but said: "My bitch will need a miracle to win, but I entered her because they can't win if they are sitting at home in their kennels.''
