Wow has drawn box five but remains a hot favourite to score his second successive Beast Unleashed Gosford Cup win in Tuesday night's $40,000 to the winner group 2 final.
In last Tuesday's heats Wow began brilliantly from box four and led all the way, covering the 515m in 29.14, .02sec faster than his winning time in 2021.
Ruth Matic, whose daughter Danielle trains Wow, was hoping for box one in the Cup final but is satisfied with box five, commenting: "Wow had box five in The Temlee, the Topgun and the Paws Of Thunder and drew four when he won his second Goulburn Cup in 2021 so is accustomed to jumping from middle boxes.''
His chances of notching back-to-back Cup wins soared when arch-rival Zipping Kyrgios, who won his heat from box two in 29.16, came up with a "horror" box eight draw in the final.
Minnie Finn, whose husband John trains Zipping Kyrgios, commented: "It will be hard for our dog from out there because it is especially tough to win from box eight at Gosford.
"Zipping Kyrgios can't seem to draw a decent box in big races because he also drew eight when he chased home Good Odds Cash in the NSW Sprint Championship at Dapto in August.''
Aston Shine and Zipping Kyrgios are respectively owned by two of the world's most successful owner-breeders, SA-based Ray Borda and Marty Hallinan, from Clergate, near Orange.
Ironically Graeme Jose registered the biggest win in nearly 30 years as a trainer when he took out the 2008 National Distance Championship with the Marty Hallinan owned Mantra Lad, but prepares Aston Shine for Borda.
Hallinan raced the 2019 Golden Easter Egg winner Zipping Bailey and her dam Zipping Willow, the "queen of Wentworth Park" but insists Zipping Kyrgios is "up there with that pair.''
Hallinan said: "It is hard to compare them because they are different types.
"Zipping Bailey is the only greyhound to come from last to win a Golden Easter Egg while most of Zipping Willow's 34 wins from 53 starts were at Wentworth Park, where she reeled off 10 consecutive wins at one stage.
"But Zipping Kyrgios is such a terrific chaser he is definitely in their league.''
Fire Legend, fifth from box five in Wow's 2021 Cup final, chased home last year's winner in his heat last Tuesday and has drawn box two on Tuesday night.
"Because of that good draw Fire Legend has gone from being no hope to some hope,'' trainer Mark Moroney said.
"He is not as quick as Wow and Zipping Kyrgios but because he is such a professional race dog Fire Legend always seems to find a way of putting himself in the picture.''
Kerry Drynan, who trains finalist Vamos Penny, will be chasing a family double as her mother Doreen Drynan won the race in 2004 with Addis Boy.
"The Gosford Cup wasn't always good for mum though because two years after she won with Addis Boy she had terrible luck with Buddy Rich, another very good dog she trained,'' Kerry Drynan said.
"Buddy Rich jumped in front in the 2006 final but after being way out in front and seeming to have the race won he broke down and Cool Mat went on to win.
"Vamos Penny has box four this year and while that is better than being drawn out wide, I will be satisfied if she can be a placegetter against such a terrific field.
"I was rapt in Vamos Penny's second placing behind Zipping Kyrgios because she drew poorly in box six and missed the jump, something my bitch does not normally do.
"She is usually a good beginner and Gosford is one of her favourite tracks so she is in with a chance.''
Vamos Penny's six Gosford appearances have resulted in three wins and three placings.
Jose is the only trainer with two Gosford Cup finalists, a far cry from his modest beginning in the sport.
"I paid just $250 for my first dog, Opal Man, but when he finished second in the 1994 Healesville Cup and gave me my first city winner a year later at Melbourne's old Olympic Park track, I have been involved in the sport ever since'' Jose said.
