Child's Play was a certainty beaten when second, from box four, at Wentworth Park last Thursday, but must cope with the same awkward draw there on Saturday night.
Child's Play will wear the blue rug in the 520m fifth-grade Ladbrokes Quick Multi final, and owner-trainer Matthew Peisley admits his dog tends to create his own problems when he races.
After winning from box four over 520m at Nowra in a fast 29.48 on September 15, Child's Play made full use of his favourite draw, box one, to win there in near record time of 29.32 on September 25.
He notched his third Wentworth Park placing in five outings when he flashed home to be beaten a length by This Is Why last week, after veering left at box rise and colliding with Zipping Arkle, who had box three, and then being hampered further when attempting to reach the rails.
"He is desperate to find the fence, so that trait means he creates his own problems,'' Matthew Peisley said.
"I work as a fencing contractor, but greyhounds are in my blood, my grandfather trained a good bitch called City Doll, and my uncle had a smart dog named Oberon Buster.
"It was while I was putting up fences for a greyhound breeder in Victoria, I noticed a litter of eight-month-old pups.
"I bought two of them for just $2000, and while one has since been re-homed, Child's Play was the other pup, and he has plenty of ability.
"He always showed talent, but after he was educated, I couldn't find anyone willing to train him, so took on the job on myself.''
Peisley believes Vaya Con Dios, who clocked a sizzling 26.18 by running down Young Star in winning over 472m at Bulli on Tuesday night, could be his dog's toughest rival.
Vaya Con Dios was last away when fourth behind This Is Why, Child's Play and Zipping Arkle at Wentworth Park last week.
Gudrid won her heat in the equivalent of more than three lengths faster than the next best qualifier for Saturday's We Stand With Tasmania Maiden Final after leading all the way and racing very wide.
Gudrid had box five in last week's heat win and would have been a hot favourite had she drawn an outside alley in the final, but she will exit box two.
Despite the less than suitable draw, her trainer Luke Azzopardi is confident she can lead throughout again.
"I know Gudrid is a wide runner, but she has begun smartly in each of her past two races, and if she begins cleanly again, I think she can clear the dogs on her outside and make the pace again.
"She was a bit underdone when she won her heat on October 23, as that was her first race for nearly two months so that run will do her the world of good.
"Since the heats I have trialled Gudrid up the straight and she went enormous.''
Trunkey Chief had box five but clocked a personal best 29.49 when chasing home Cumbria Jack in a Million Dollar Chase qualifier at Wentworth Park on September 27 and he has drawn box one in the Mark Hughes Foundation Stakes at headquarters on Saturday night.
Trunkey Chief has won four of his eight appearances wearing the red rug and should only need to begin safely to hold out noted front-runners Whisper Bark (box two) and Watchmaker (box three) in the charge to the first turn.
If Trunkey Chief can retain the lead going into the first corner, he should notch up his 11th victory at headquarters.
Another greyhound expected to win from box one on Saturday night is Joanne, who looks ideally positioned on the rails in the Braydon's Bucks Bash Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Joanne found early trouble when seventh from box two at Wentworth Park on October 18 but clocked her fastest Wentworth Park figures of 29.66 when second, from box one, behind Magical Ang on October 2.
She should get a clear run to the first turn on Saturday night as Big Bernie, a hefty 34kg dog who has box two, is likely to want to move to the centre of the track in the early stages.
Magical Ang has box five in Saturday's 520m Ladbrokes Fast Payout Final but on times posted in the October 23 heats at Wentworth Park she should lead all the way.
The Peter Lagogiane-trained bitch not only recorded fastest overall figures of 29.77, but her sectional times of 5.40, 13.64 and 17.71 were outstanding.
Her kennelmate Hotshot Lily has box one after leading throughout from box eight in her heat, but her splits were 5.48, 13.85 and 17.95 leading into 30.14 for the 520m.
The evergreen Father Rick, who turns six on December 4, could land his 39th win at start number 112 after drawing nicely in box eight in Saturday's Ladbrokes Blackbook Masters Stakes, 520m.
Father Rick has won 11 of his 29 races from boxes seven and eight and relishes having room to move in the charge to the first corner.
