AFTER no contender really stamped their authority on the competition in the heats, today's final of the Lesley Ann Leonard Memorial Handicap (400m) at Dawson Park is set to be one of the most intriguing in recent times.
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The David Grant-trained Blenda was the fastest of all qualifiers, winning her heat in the time of 23.02 seconds, but with a habit of starting slowly she will have to be at her best today when she jumps from box five.
No dog broke the 23 second barrier while there was only 0.42 of a second separating all eight finalists.
Tomingley's Robert Ingram looks a strong chance of collecting the $3000 in prize money with his runner Blazing Marlowe impressing in the heats and then drawing box eight for the final.
Blazing Marlowe won his heat by over five lengths and came home in the time of 23.12 and will surely be in the hunt while local trainer Denise Sparkes will be hoping her talented bitch, Kurumba, can see her claim glory in the time-honoured event.
Kurumba, much like Blenda, has a habit of starting slowly but she overcame that in Monday's heat where as she came home to blitz the field by ten lengths in the time of 23.24.
After winning her heat, Sparkes admitted Kurumba can't afford a slow start in the final but she will still fancy her chances when jumping from box two.
Kylie McDonald is the only trainer with multiple runners in the final, with Trojan Fusion jumping from box four and Epic Fusion in box six.
Trojan Fusion will be among the favourites coming from the middle of the field and will punch to the lead early after showing plenty of pace from the box in his heat.
Wellington trainer Ron Steel, fresh from a trifecta of wins at Dawson Park earlier this month, will have Suzi Cargo jumping from box one and that favourable draw will have him dreaming of a big win in what is only his runner's seventh career start.
Myalla Nitro looks to have the odds stacked against her after drawing wide in box seven.
The Stephen Cleary-trained bitch is one of the smallest dogs in the field and Cleary confessed after the heat that anything except an inside box would make things difficult.
Cowra trainer Pamela Braddon makes up the field with Little Desire, who finished second behind Blenda in her heat, starting in box two.
Today's 10-race program at Dawson Park begins at 12.49pm with the final of the Lesley Ann Leonard Memorial Handicap at 2.52pm.