A Gunnedah greyhound will test her mettle against NSW's No.1-rated Feral Franky in the first heat of the Million Dollar Chase at Gunnedah on Saturday.
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Come On Duchess is the only local greyhound who will race in the "richest greyhound race in the world" after she was nominated by her owner and trainer, Billy Marmara.
Marmara wasn't put off by Feral Franky's reputation, saying Come On Duchess knew the track well and was ready to take on the 527m alongside dogs from Dubbo, St Fillans, Forbes and Sydney. Tamworth greyhound Peanut Brittle is a reserve.
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Locally-based Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association (GBOTA) director Geoff Rose said Come On Duchess was a "quick little greyhound" early on and "anything can happen in a race".
"I'll be surprised if she's not in the first couple going through the winning post the first time. She's well and truly in this," Rose said.
Rose would have liked to see more trainers nominate their dogs for the race (only 10 did) and said the entry of a "high-profile" dog like Feral Franky "might have frightened a few trainers away from competing against him".
He is glad that at least Marmara "is willing to take him on".
"You're not going to beat him if you don't nominate," he said.
Rose said Feral Franky drawing barrier seven was a negative, as the dog liked to hug the rail.
"He's [Feral Franky] got everything against him to get beat but I'm saying he's a very classy dog," he said.
Rose said he was hopeful locals would turn out to support the event, which was drawing visitors from all over the state.
"You never get a chance to have these sort of races in the country ... to conduct races of this calibre," he said.
"People all over the world will be able to watch this race ... For a little town like Gunnedah, it's really a feather in our cap."
Rose said Feral Franky had a cult following and he expected some people would turn up just to see him race.
"He's fluid in action. He looks as if you could sit a glass of water on his back and he wouldn't spill a drop," Rose said.
"He's like the Winx in the horse racing."
A 10-race card is scheduled for Saturday and the first race will start at 5.30pm. The Million Dollar Chase heat is slated to start at 6.58pm.
A final heat will be held on Sunday, September 8 and the top four dogs will go on to compete in the semi-final.
- Admittance on Saturday is $7/head and children under 16 don't pay.
