The heat was won by the Peter Sims-trained Canya Star, the six-and-a-half hour trip a worthwhile one for the Riverina-based trainer with Second Exit also qualifying for Thursday night's final.

Many expected Sims, who had never been to Gunnedah before, to win at least one heat - and he did - but it wasn't quite the expected results.

In the opening heat of the night, Canya Star flew from the boxes and was able to cross the inside runners and take the lead into the first turn.

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Odds-on favourite Xerri from the Darryl Thomas kennel, also got across from his box eight draw.

From there, the pair - both having their first outing at Gunnedah - had it between them, with Xerri looking like he was going to hook out and go around the leader several times.

But Canya Star refused to surrender, and held off her rival to win by 21/2 lengths in 30.41s from Xerri with Tamworth trainer Mark Craig's Jabeni third and Murphey fourth well behind the first pair.

Then in heat two, Second Exit - runner-up to Ritza Coen in last month's NSW Sprint Championship Final - was justifiably sent out a very short-priced favourite, and when she took the lead down the back, it appeared the punters were correct.

But it was Michelle Shambler's Muzza Keeping, a dog who broke the 431m Gunnedah track record at his racetrack debut back in August last year, who stalked the leader and then stormed to the lead swinging for home, racing away for an impressive 13/4 length win in 30.55s over Second Exit, with Full Powered third and Franco Fernando, trained by Michael Craig in Tamworth, fourth, the quartet also going through to the final.

The box draw for the final is: 1 Murphey 2 Canya Star 3 Muzza Keeping 4 Second Exit 5 Full Powered 6 Xerri 7 Franco Fernando 8 Jabeni 9 Ferrari Blaster 10 Mr Rain Maker.