Fastest heat winner Tulsi Banner has drawn box six in the final of the group 1 Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Opal but trainer Barry Gibbons is far from disappointed, he is actually happy with the wide draw.
On Saturday night Tulsi Banner jumped clear at the start and ran her rivals off their legs to win her heat in 29.59, after posting dazzling early splits of 5.32 and 13.69.
"She possesses that explosive early pace,'' Barry Gibbons said later.
"And I'm pleased with box six in next Saturday's final because when she won her heat tonight from box four she stepped to the right soon after her start.
"Her mother Lilly Banner won this race for me in 2020 and she came out running from a wide draw, box seven to win the final in 29.75.''
Equally satisfied with their bitches' box positions in the final are Chris Kedwell, whose greyhound Out Of Style has drawn one, and Blake Moroney, with Blazing Razo, who has come up with box two.
Out Of Style ran down Blazing Razo to win her heat in 29.82 but Chris Kedwell believes she can begin faster in the final.
"Another dog was playing up in the boxes for Out Of Style's heat and I think that caused my bitch to miss the start slightly,'' Kedwell said.
"Out Of Style is still learning so having box one is a big plus for her.''
Blazing Raso, who had won her three previous starts over 600m at The Gardens and 603m at Gosford, began brilliantly from box four and recorded smart initial splits of 5.37 an 13.86 before going under by just over a length to Out Of Style.
Blazing Raso's trainer Blake Moroney said: "Tonight was her first visit to Wentworth Park since she contested the New Sensation series in April so the run will do her good.
"Her confidence is sky high at the moment because when she won those three recent middle distance races she got clear air all the way.''
Sam Sultana's consistent Au Contraire, who relished box one in her all the way 29.65 heat win, has drawn nicely in box three in the final.
Trainer Barry Gibbons secured a finalist in next Saturday's group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic when Tulsi Banner's litter brother Boston Banner was beaten a neck by unbeaten sensation Rinsed The Lot in a fast 29.42 heat.
Rinsed The Lot (pictured), prepared by Michelle Sultana, who took out the 2024 Golden Easter Egg with Mackenna, led throughout and after reeling off early sections of 5.37 and 13.64, hung on to beat Boston Banner in a tight finish.
Rinsed The Lot's time was quick but not as brilliant as the flying 29.37 recorded by the Vic Sultana-trained Foreign Capital who won his heat after an early duel with the eventual runner-up Tarzan Teddy.
Ferness, prepared by battling trainer Ron Evans, began brilliantly from box eight to book his place in the Vic Peters final, leading all the way in a personal best Wentworth Park time of 29.46.
Crack trainers Minnie Finn and Jack Smith rarely miss being represented in a group 1 final at Wentworth Park and Finn won a heat of the Vic Peters with Zipping Bonucci in 29.88 while Smith's Flash Boom Bang overcame his usual slow start to win a heat in 29.52.
