MR Moorooduc ran the second-fastest Solo Melbourne Cup heat time in the race's 54-year history in a scintillating night of racing at Sandown Park last Thursday.
Beginning well from box 2, Mr Moorooduc was never threatened, racing away to defeat fast-finishing favourite Birthday Boy by five lengths in a stunning 29.57 seconds.
Joining the speedster in the $250,000 final is dual Country Cup winner Remo Rubik.
Trained by Geoff Mitchell in Keysborough, Remo Rubik was flawless from box 1, going on to win his heat by a length from the gallant Dawbillows Heaven in 29.72 seconds.
Geelong-based trainers will again be well represented in Australia's richest greyhound race, with Jamie Ennis' Octare causing the upset of the night when she defeated recent Geelong Cup winner Gripen Bale and three-time group 1 winner Cindeen Shelby in a slick 29.66 seconds.
Sent to the boxes a $33 outsider, it was Octare's first win in 11 attempts at the Lightwood Road circuit. She was a finalist in this month's group 1 Macro Meats Crown Classic, and will be looking to secure her first feature win in 63 career starts in next week's $175,000 final.
Fellow Geelong greyhounds joining Octare in next week's final are Andrea Dailly's six-time group race finalist Dyna Lachlan, who was far too good in his heat, winning in 29.64 seconds, and Robert Britton's Prankster, which won its sixth race from 10 starts at Sandown Park.
Take The Kitty is the sole interstate representative in the 2009 final. Ken Cheetham's Sky Racing Topgun finalist overcame the dreaded box 6 to win in 29.79 seconds, defeating the well-fancied Flash Of Light by a length. But all eyes will be focused on Turanza Bale for master trainer Graeme Bate.
Bate is a three-time Solo Melbourne Cup winner and has prepared more than 20 cup finalists in his long and distinguished career.
His 2009 year has been one of his finest, winning 15 group races across the country with seven different greyhounds, and he will have his eyes set firmly on the nation's biggest prize with one of the country's fastest greyhounds.
After setting the Meadows track record in the recent group 3 Silver Bullet, Turanza Bale was a brave second behind kennelmate Velocette in last week's group 3 Macro Meats Shootout, and overcame a strong challenge form Queenslander Robo Raptor to win his heat in 29.78 seconds. The final of the $250,000 feature will be run at Sandown Park this Thursday night.
Drill 'Em put an end to Amity Bale's phenomenal nine-race winning streak when he took out the $36,000 group 2 Bold Trease Carnival Cup on Thursday night. Backed into $7.50, Drill 'Em pounced from box 4 to lead all the way and win in 42.08 seconds.
"It's a huge win," said owner Neil Rowe. "We never thought we'd have a greyhound capable of running against dogs of this caliber, but obviously Drill 'Em is."
Drill 'Em defeated rising staying star Next Top Model, with Amity Bale third.
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