Zipping Orlando starred in Saturday night's NSW heats of the National Sprint Championship but the John Finn-trained dog's awkward box eight draw in Thursday night's final has thrown the 520m event wide open.
Zipping Orlando trailed Screaming Jet to the home bend in Saturday night's opening heat and got up in the last stride, edging out Andy Lord's sprinter by a head in an outstanding 29.53.
Simply Limelight, who was last away from box eight and immediately crossed to the rails, rattled home from a distant fourth on the back straight to be a length away third.
Second fastest heat time was the 29.76 posted by Zipping Orlando's kennelmate Zipping Remus, who trailed wide running pacemaker Kingsbrae Demon to the back straight before railing through to the lead turning for home.
Street Of Dreams, who was last going through the catching pen, flashed home to be runner-up and qualify for Thursday's final.
Although Modern Swinger's 29.77 all the way win in heat two was the slowest of the winners, he has come up with box one in the final and now has an undeniable chance.
Trainer Chris O'Brien is holidaying in Cairns and Modern Swinger was handled for him by fellow trainer Mark Suttle.
After learning that Modern Swinger had drawn box one next Thursday night O'Brien said: "That gives him a good chance because he is a reliable beginner.
"And earlier in his career he was not handling the first turn too well but he went around it nicely on Saturday so is getting better.''
Peter Rodgers, trainer of Simply Limelight, was naturally disappointed to see his Golden Easter Egg winner out in box six in the final.
"He will probably come out slowly and plop onto the fence so from there he will be finishing strongly but will need to get a reasonably clear run.''
Seaton Key, a luckless fourth in top grade at WP on July 26, atoned for that defeat with a personal best 29.72 performance in taking out a 520m fifth grade for trainer Justin King on Saturday.
But among the most improved greyhounds in training is Ritza Natalie, who led throughout to win a 520m fifth grade on Wednesday in 30.04 and backed up on Saturday night to lead all the way again, this time in 30.00.
Trainer Mark Gatt said: "When she was first educated and when she began racing Ritza Natalie was nothing special.
"But she has not stopped improving and is such a good beginner that she is going to win plenty of races.
"After all, when you are out in front you are always in with a chance and she has now jumped in front and led all the way in three wins from four starts.''
