Screaming Jet, bought as a puppy for $10,000 from his breeder, Dubbo club president Shayne Stiff, should be on his way to Melbourne for the National Sprint Championship after Thursday night's Wentworth Park meeting.
Trained by Andy Lord for painting contractor Arthur Langman, Screaming Jet has box two in the 520m NSW final and is chasing a berth in the $85,000 to the winner grand final at Melbourne's The Meadows on August 26.
In last week's NSW heats Screaming Jet led until the last stride when beaten a head by powerful finisher Zipping Orlando in a sizzling 29.53, easily fastest of the three qualifying races.
Despite being beaten in his heat, Screaming Jet is the second quickest finalist and has the draw to turn the tables on his heat conqueror.
Zipping Orlando wore the red rug in his heat after being undefeated in three previous races from the rails draw but he moves out to box eight on Saturday night and has managed just three minor placings in six assignments carrying the pink jacket.
Before the heats Andy Lord declared Screaming Jet was "on the way" to becoming as good as In For Life, with whom he won the 2004 National Sprint Championship at Perth's Cannington.
"I'm happy with Screaming Jet's box two draw on Saturday because he is improving all the time, loves Wenty Park, and looks positioned to get a good run to the first corner,'' Lord said.
"His kennelmate We Don't Share, who has box three, will run straight from the boxes to the first turn while Wyndra All Class, in box four, moves off the track.''
Screaming Jet's owner Arthur Langman has raced greyhounds since 1987 and has owned top class performers Lady Moscato and Becton, who each won 18 races, along with the lightly-raced Monkey Gas.
Langman said: "Monkey Gas broke down after winning two of his only five races and as he had the potential to be the best of them all I'm enjoying the ride with Screaming Jet.
"He was was only four months old when I bought him from Shayne Stiff and I don't think Stiffy will sell me as pup as cheaply again!''
Modern Swinger, who led throughout to win his Championship heat in 29.77, is a noted front-runner and his trainer CHRIS O'Brien is rapt in his box one draw.
"Earlier in his career he wasn't handling the first turn at Wenty Park all that well but he cruised around it beautifully in his heat,'' O'Brien said.
Modern Swinger has had box one on five occasions, registering three wins and two placings.
Palawa King, who has won his past five starts in three states over 520m, 600m and 710m, will be all the rage in Thursday night's NSW National Distance Championship final.
Because he was unable to secure a run with the dog in Sydney in recent weeks, trainer Jack Smith took Palawa King to Melbourne on July 29 and again last Saturday where the dog recorded dazzling wins at The Meadows, venue for the National Distance final on August 26.
"He pulled up beautifully after winning at The Meadows last Saturday and is raring to go on Thursday night,'' Smith said.
Andy Lord has three of the seven contestants in Thursday's Wentworth Park race but surprised by declaring Cawbourne Magic was ready to return to the winning list.
"Punter's Bandit should lead from box three and Bandit Jane, who has box one, will be up close early, but Cawbourne Magic could be the surprise packet,'' Lord said.
"In the last trials I gave my three Championship hopes, Cawbourne Magic absolutely flew, he went a lot faster than his two kennelmates did.''
John Finn has Zipping Vanessa in box two in Thursday's 720m Championship and his wife Minnie said: "She is in with a chance so long as she comes out reasonably well.
"When she flashed home to run second over 520m at Wenty last Saturday she left the boxes five lengths behind the second last dog and she can't afford to do that again.''
