Sydney’s wet weather has Redshift Seven's race record set in last year's listed Ausure Regional Ultra Sense looking safe despite the smart lineup in the 2022 final to be held at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Wenty was lightning fast on final night last year, with Tommy Shelby smashing the race record with a 29.27 performance in the Golden Easter Egg and Redshift Seven leading throughout from box four in 29.55 in the Ultra Sense.
The John Little-trained Redshift Seven not only bettered the previous best Ultra Sense figures of 29.74 posted by Jason Magri's Zipping Falcon in 2019, but he carved out dazzling splits of 5.39 and 13.73 before defeating Cumbria Dreaming in clearly his personal best Wentworth Park time.
Fastest heat winner this year is Lochinvar Lona, who led throughout from box three in 29.70 on April 1 with Castle Warrior the only other finalist to break 30sec, recording 29.95 in his all the way win from box four.
Before the heats Lochinvar Lona's trainer Ruth King expected her greyhound to make the pace but was concerned how strongly he would run the 520m, so was pleasantly surprised when her dog won easily in 29.70.
But on Saturday night Lochinvar Lona has drawn poorly in box eight, especially as She's Savage, who has box seven, possesses brilliant early pace,
The draw favours Castle Warrior who will exit box one, with wide runners Opal Model and Bow Tippy in boxes two and three.
Opal Model is a brilliant beginner who had box two in her 30.18 heat win while Bow Tippy powered home to win her heat in 30.37.
Bow Tippy had box eight in her heat and after the race trainer Steve Albon declared he wanted an outside draw in the final.
Castle Warrior's trainer Mark Wilcox said: "My dog is ready to go and his draw certainly looks suitable.
"I'm not sure if he will know where to go when he jumps from box one because he has mostly drawn in the middle in his races.
"Castle Warrior can often dwell slightly at the start but he musters pace quickly and from box one he should be able to push up along the fence and hopefully hold the lead at the first turn.''
Young Victorian trainer Kayla Cottrell will be chasing her first major Sydney race when she leads out Devine Empress, fastest qualifier for Saturday night's $40,000 to the winner New Sensation.
In 2021 Cottrell went within a head of landing the group one Association Cup with her stayer Fernando Cazz, who led everywhere except at the post when run down in a photo finish by Stanley Road.
Another Victorian trainer, Graeme Jose, is planning more trips to Wentworth Park after his Gosford Cup runner-up Lots Of Chatter contests Saturday night's GRNSW Masters Final.
Lots Of Chatter was the only finalist to break 30sec in the heats, taking an early lead to win easily in 29.86 after exiting box seven on April 1.
"All being well Lots Of Chatter will be back in Sydney for the heats of the Masters Meteor at Wentworth Park on April 27,'' Jose said.
