Kitty Keen clocked the fastest first split of 5.23 when she won her 400m Maitland Future Stars heat on Monday in a slick 22.40 but Allan Syphers, her breeder, owner and trainer, insists one of her siblings is quicker.
Kitty Keen has drawn box four in Monday night's $15,000 to the winner final while fastest heat winner Blue Zephyr, who clocked 22.32, has box five.
The other heat winners were kennelmates Good Odds Zac in 22.35 (box one in the final) and Ties That Bind in 22.38 (box seven) while Jeter won in 22.56 (box six) and Born Junkie in 22.61 (box three).
Allan Syphers bred Kitty Keen and her siblings Blue Keen and Tiny Keen, who also contested Future Stars heats, from his former speedster Lizzy Keen.
"Lizzy Keen was a good bitch who set track records over 340m and 440m at Gunnedah and won 14 from 32 starts,'' Syphers said.
"This is her first litter and after being mated with Fernando Bale she last year whelped seven pups in March last year.
"I kept them all and while Kitty Keen went super in her Future Stars heat, her brother Tiny Keen, who finished fourth in his heat, is definitely faster and has the makings of a really special greyhound.
"Two other members of the litter, His Keen and Blue Keen finished fifth and sixth respectively in their heats but they are all very green.
"They had each had just a hand-slip and one trial at Maitland before last Monday's races so they can only get better.''
Trainer Frank Hurst who won Future Stars heats with siblings Good Odds Zac and Ties That Bind and finished second with their sister Good Odds Emma, who is first reserve for the final, believes luck in running will decide the outcome.
"There is nothing between my three but on times there is only a length or so covering the whole final lineup,'' Hurst said.
"Before the heats there was a rumour sweeping the track that one of my dogs had trialled 21.90 but that's rubbish, I don't know how they dream up these figures.
"Good Odds Zac and Ties The Bind both have early speed and they are boxed okay so they both have a good chance on Monday night.
"We give most of our dogs the Good Odds prefix but my wife Tracey owns Ties That Bind and she was keen to give him that name.''
The Tracey Hurst-trained Good Odds Cash, who was a luckless third in Derry Express' Goulburn Cup heat last Sunday, will head to Bulli for Tuesday's Flight To The Phoenix heats.
Good Odds Cash has had 15 wins and six placings from 26 starts and has an outstanding record at Bulli, where she has won five of 10 appearances and has displayed remarkable versatility.
Good Odds Cash has clocked a slick 22.43 over 400m and near record figures of 25.86 for 472m and 28.49 over 515m.
