Subtle Art has always been over-shadowed by his brilliant litter sister Good Odds Cash but gets his chance to step into the limelight in the 515m Southern Engine Reconditioning Stakes at Bulli tonight.
While the Tracey Hurst-trained Good Odds Cash (pictured) has won 13 of 21 races and qualified for the next Million Dollar Chase semi-finals, Subtle Art has had just nine starts for three wins.
But the dog, owned and trained by Subawa Ngurah, who bred Good Odds Cash, has struck form and followed a slick 29.85 Nowra 520 win by overcoming a mediocre start to win in a handy 24.93 over 440m at Goulburn on August 27.
Subtle Art went to the line full of running at Goulburn and looks well suited by the additional 75m of tonight's race.
His toughest opponent looms as the Sarah Easey-trained Typhoon Ribbons, who is partial to the Bulli track and who will also relish the 515m trip.
But Typhoon Ribbons' box manners can be costly and he was last away when third over 535m at Richmond last Friday from box seven, the same draw he has on tonight.
Ron Marsden's wonderful litter brothers Hardaway Titan and Hardaway Harada, who between them have won a remarkable 68 of their 124 starts, clash in tonight's Ladbrokes Blended Multi Masters over 340m.
Hardaway Titan has drawn box seven with his brother in box eight and Marsden said the draw favours the dog wearing the black rug.
"Hardaway Harada is a bit like a machine, he just keeps going, but he is 100 per cent better off from an inside box than he is from the outside,'' Marsden said.
"But Hardaway Titan is well drawn out wide and in any case, while they are both very good, he is quicker than his brother.''
Marsden has their younger half brother Hardaway Ranger in box two in tonight's 400m Ladbrokes Easy Form Free-For-All and is pleased with that dog's draw.
"He is really well positioned,'' Marsden said.
Hardaway Ranger has won five of his eight races from boxes one and two and none of his rivals tonight has been able to match his fastest Bulli 400m time of 22.09.
Hardaway Ranger's only hang-up could be at box rise, as he missed the jump when beaten a half length, from box five, over 297m at Dapto last Thursday.
Five Second Rule, another greyhound who can mix his box manners, is well positioned in box seven and could be the toughest rival for Marsden's dog.
Five Second Rule missed the start from box four at his most recent race, over 472m at Bulli on July 31, but showed excellent mid-race dash to sweep around the field and lead at the half-way mark.
The early effort told in the straight and he was run down and beaten less than a length by Tarawi Harley but has drawn better tonight and should sprint well fresh over the 400m trip.
Trainer Michael Galea believes King Of Sting only needs to jump cleanly to go close in tonight's opening event, the 400m Tristam Marshall 40th Maiden Stakes.
King Of Sting has been placed in each of his only two circle track races, over 400m at Bulli, and Galea said: "He is going good and he just needs to begin flush with his rivals to be hard to beat.
"When he finished third, from box eight, at his latest Bulli race on July 13, King Of Sting got forced wide and had no luck.''
Zipping Conway, unbeaten in three Bulli 472m appearances, is expected to retain his flawless tally by taking out tonight's Punters Love Bulli Stakes, a fourth grade race.
Trainer Jason Magri is keen on his prospects and could land a double as he has Zipping Conway's litter sister Zipping Idaho in box seven in the 400m Ladbrokes Same Race Multi Stakes.
Zipping Idaho is having her first race at Bulli but Magri said: "She has trialled at the track and although this is a strong field, I think she has a good chance because I expect her to handle her wide draw well.''
King Power was badly hampered crossing to the rails when seventh from box six at Bulli on August 14 and Troy McDonald, whose wife Natalie trains the dog, is satisfied with their greyhound's box three draw in the 472m Get Vaxxed Stakes.
"Prior to that last Bulli run King Power had led all the way from box five and clocked 26.24 winning over 472m at Bulli on July 21, and he was able to do that without having previously seen the track,'' McDonald said.
"He is well positioned close to the fence in box three this week.''
