One person watching with particular interest will be trainer Karen Midson, who is hoping her charge can win the coveted race.

“Hopefully he’ll win it!” she said with a laugh.

“It’s exciting to have a dog in the final with this sort of prizemoney on offer.

“We’ll be hoping he can get himself in the lead and then try and hold onto it.”

The ultra-quick greyhound qualified for the rich final by upsetting favourite Tuiaki in Monday’s third semi-final.

All eyes will be on the track come 5.27pm this afternoon, with competition sure to be fierce in what’s shaping as a quality showdown.

“They can all push him, but the four (Tuiaki) is the biggest threat, he’s the city winner and is probably the fastest dog in the race,” she said.

“I’m hoping he can use his good box draw (out of one) to get in front early and hold on a little bit better than he did the other night.

“If he can do that, we’re a pretty good chance!”

In more than 25 years of greyhound training, this is the biggest purse Midson has vied for.

With such a strong field to contend with, it’s a tall task for the local pup but Midson is quietly confident he will give the final a good shake.

“He’s got a good box draw and he will use it to his best advantage,” she said.

• Full fields for today’s meeting appears on page 37.