Shall Not will be shooting for his 15th consecutive win up the Richmond straight when he contests Saturday's NSW final of the National Straight Track Championship.
Owned by former international rugby league star Terry Hill and trained by Darren Sultana, Shall Not easily defeated Michelle Sultana's Fernando Rocker to win his heat last Saturday in 17.40.
The other heat was taken out by the Jason Magri-trained Oscar Moses, who covered the 324m in 17.54 and defeated another Michelle Sultana-prepared greyhound Aston Ulysses by two lengths.
Such is Shall Not's reputation as king of the straight is such that even Jason Magri, trainer of Oscar Moses, concedes his dog "will need to improve" to topple Sultana's flyer next Saturday.
"All things being equal I doubt that Oscar Moses can beat Shall Not,'' Magri declared.
And Sultana paid Shall Not the ultimate compliment, rating him a "better race dog" than his former champion straight tracker and Richmond 324m record holder Mr America.
Shall Not After His NSW National Straight Track Championship Heat Win
Sultana said: "Although on times Mr America was faster he was a mad railer while Shall Not is more tractable, he can win from any box so he is probably a better overall race dog.
"If he gets into a Richmond race when he has the wind behind him Shall Not might give Mr America's record a shake.''
The National final will be held over 350m at Healesville on Saturday, August 26, and Shall Not has the advantage of having trialled and raced there.
Darren Sultana said: "I gave him a trial there but when Shall Not raced there on July 16 he got pole-axed and finished third.''
Shall Not's record stands at 31 wins and 10 placings from 48 appearances while Mr America retired with 26 wins and eight placings after facing the starter on 44 occasions.
Aston Ulysses turns five in November but the remarkably versatile old stager shows no signs of slowing down.
He is being set for the 520m Masters Meteor at Wentworth Park on October 13 and has won over 660m but rocketed home to be runner up behind Oscar Moses in his 324m Championship heat last Saturday.
Michelle Sultana has an outstanding team in work but admits Aston Ulysses is clearly her favourite greyhound.
"I just love this dog so much, he has such a terrific personality and friendly nature,'' she said.
"Only sign that he is getting old is that on cold mornings when I get all my dogs out of their kennels if he doesn't feel like getting out of bed he just stays there.
"I would like to draw box eight or near the outside in Saturday's final because then Aston Ulysses would be left alone and would get a better chance.''
Aston Ulysses is closing in on his 100th start as he goes into Saturday's Richmond race with 36 wins and 30 placings from 97 races.
