The Denison dog charged into the group 2 event with an upset heat win on Wednesday night.

Luca Neveelk ($2.60) upstaged Melbourne Cup winner Dyna Villa ($1.70) in the second of eight heats at Morshead Park.

He ran 25.47 seconds to finish ahead of Maximum Lil ($14.10) with Dyna Villa, which did run into trouble a few times, third.

Luca Neveelk went into the Ballarat assignment off a last in the Melbourne Cup, but owner-trainer Gerry Kleeven said he had missed the start at Sandown.

Napoleons chaser Agent Jack looms as the main danger after an ideal draw in seven for Next Wednesday night.

Agent Jack is a slow beginner and the wide draw should ensure he stays out of trouble early – just as he did from eight to win heat five.

The son of Bekim Bale gives Stephen McKenna, who is also a Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club committee member, his first runner in his hometown cup.

He had four starters in the cup heats and Agent Jack ($5.30) could hardly have been more impressive as ran away by more than three lengths in the second fastest heat time of 25.14 seconds.

Anakie trainer Andrew Dailly will have two runners in the final – Allen Deed ($3.70) and Musquin Bale ($4.50)

Reservoir owner-trainer Peter Akathiotis was excited to see his blue dog Blue Giant ($11.50) be the last to qualify in the eighth heat.

He said Blue Giants had to overcome interference more than once to get the money.

“It was huge.”

Stewards reported that Blue Giant had been checked in a collision shortly after the start, severely checked in another collision on the home-turn and caught up in another collision in the home straight.

Then in one of the best finishes of the night he caught El Grand Seal ($2.10 favourite) in the last bound.

What makes it so satisfying for Akathiotis is that Blue Giant has been able to overcome a cracked pelvis, which more than once threatened the dog’s racing career.

He said Blue Giant had been off the scene for a total 10 months this year.

Akathiotis said he initially returned to racing after seven months, but had aggravated the injury after a handful of starts and been sidelined for another three months.

This was only his sixth run back.

Heat winning times:

1 – Ultima Bale (box 6) 25.37

2 – Luca Neveelk (4) 25.47

3 – Secret Spell (1) 25.35

4  - Allen Deed (5) 25.06

5 – Agent Jack (8) 25.14

6 – Marcus Joe (7) 25.34

7 - Musquin Bale (1) 25.42

8 – Blue Giant (3) 25.33

MEGA MERCH BALLARAT GREYHOUND CUP FINAL

(in box order)

1-181 Luca Neveelk (Gerry Kleeven, Denison)

2-131 Ultima Bale (Stephen Collins, Lara)

3-231 Blue Giant (Peter Akathiotis, Reservoir)

4-761 Allen Deed (Andrea Dailly, Anakie)

5-431 Musquin Bale (Andrea Dailly, Anakie)

6-241 Marcus Joe (Barry Moloney, Marcus Hill)

7-161 Agent Jack (Stephen McKenna, Napoleons)

8-181 Secret Spell (Kelly Bravo, Lovely Banks)

RESERVES

9-612 Quarrel Bale (Stephen Collins, Lara)

10-612 El Grand Seal (Jeff Britton, Anakie)