Andy and Jodie Lord's Coast Model chased home Hold Me Up in last year's Christmas Gift but they have two qualifiers for the 2023 final after One Hot Bandit's heat win and Nangar Larry's minor placing.
On Saturday night at Wentworth Park One Hot Bandit jumped better than usual to win his heat by over six lengths in 29.80 while Nangar Larry clocked 29.97 in finishing a close third behind Zipping Caleb and Eyes To Eyes in 29.89.
Agland Luai ran down My Hepburn to win the other heat in 29.85 but while Zipping Caleb was the slowest winner he took out by far the toughest heat.
Slowly away from box one, Zipping Caleb railed into third place going through the catching pen, trailing Eyes To Eyes and Nangar Larry who had bumped on the first corner.
Eyes To Eyes retained the lead on the back straight, but was headed off by Nangar Larry on the home home before Zipping Caleb, a close third at that point, flashed along the fence to win running away.
One Hot Bandit's win was his 13th from just 26 starts while Andy Lord was tickled pink with Nangar Larry's minor placing, commenting "That was a good run.''
Tiggerlong Ruby left the starting boxes four lengths behind the field in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday but sustained a long rails run to be third approaching the home bend.
After being second behind tearaway leader Frisky Felon on the home bend, the Margaret Keys-trained Tiggerlong Ruby surged away in the straight to win by just over a length in 30.13.
After the race Keys said: "It's a shame she is such a terrible beginner.
"But she certainly has a powerful finish and I'm hoping she is still racing when they get the proposed 600m start installed at Wenty, because that distance would be perfect for her.''
Noelene Holloway's Fascinate Mel notched her 14th Wentworth Park win in Saturday night's 520m fourth and fifth grade, zipping past early leader Redeem Our Cash on the first turn to score by nearly two lengths in 30.08.
Holloway said later: "This breed love Wentworth Park.
"Apart from Fascinate Mel, I have won 21 races at Wenty with her close relation Magic Spring, and 17 at the track with another close relative, Queen Esther.''
Holloway's string of winners are descended from her first greyhound, Fascinate Marina, herself a winner of 13 races over a decade ago.
Veteran trainer Greg Board's bad luck proved a blessing for his grandson Joshua Board when Spring Meteor took out Saturday's 520m fourth grade.
The Greg Board-trained Spring Honour dashed to the lead on the back straight and looked all over a winner when he was galloped on from behind by Oscar Boaz.
In the ensuing scrimmage Spring Meteor, trained by Greg Board's grandson Joshua, swept to the lead and held on to beat Zipping Teresa by a half length in 30.14.
Joshua Board's cousin Jay Opetaia trains Agland Luai, a finalist for next Saturday's Christmas Gift at Wentworth Park, completing a successful if mixed night for the family.
One Hot Bandit's fast 29.80 Christmas Gift heat win was matched on the clock by his kennelmate, the Andy Lord-trained Mr Yellowstone, who came from second on the back straight to win a 520m fifth grade by seven lengths in identical time.
