Dailly qualified two runners via heats – Speed Star and Dyna Patty.

Dyna Patty is one of the most decorated greyhounds in Victoria, having won multiple group races, including the group 1 Maturity Classic, 525m, at the Meadows in July.

Dailly previously won the group two event with Magic Trace in 2005 and Dyna Lachlan in 2009.

Dyna Patty, which will jump from box eight in the $70,000 Volkswagen Ballarat Cup, 450m, is on the third line of betting at $4.60 with tab.com.au.

Speed Star is $10, with Belt Up Bubbs (box one) the $3.40 favourite ahead of co-fastest heat winner Aston Kametto (box three) $3.50.

While Dailly is look to end a nine-year drought in the event, Ballarat-raised Seona Thompson is going for back-to-back victories with Ashton Kimetto.

She broke through in the cup last year with Melbourne Cup winner Aston Dee Bee.

Thompson originally had two dogs in the final, but has scratched Spring Bridge to leave Dailly as the only trainer with multiple runners.

Aston Kimetto and Fully Loaded, trained by Neville Wakefield at Cranbourne, tied for the fastest heat time with 24.96 seconds  – less than a second off the  track record of 24.76 set by Over Limit in 2014.

Aston Kimetto is the least experienced with just 18 starts, which include wins in the group 2 Geelong Cup and group 3 Warragul St Leger.

However, his impressive heat finish where he came from last out in box two to secure his place in the final.

Thompson is not the only cup trainer with Ballarat ties.

Now Pearcedale-based Steve Collins, who has Dyna Hunter engaged, spent time with kennels at Lake Goldsmith west of Ballarat after relocating from South Australia more than a decade ago.

Lara’s Jamie Ennis says Belt Up Bubbs is suited by the spacious Morshead Park circuit.

“Being a big 39 kilo dog, it’s hard in the city class races to manoeuvre early, but going back to Ballarat which is a more spacious track, he was able to use that to his advantage,” Ennis told Greyhound Racing Victoria’s website.

Belt Up Bubbs has had six starts for five wins and a second placing in Ballarat, which Ennis attributes to Bubbs’ familiarity of the track.

“We have had a bit of luck through the Ballarat Cups – it has always been a track we trial at and the dogs always race well there,” Ennis said.

AT A GLANCE

BALLARAT GREYHOUND CUP

Morshead Park

Saturday, December 8

Gates open 5.30pm

12 races – first at 6.47pm

VicGrey special event support races: 390m, 545m and 660m

Live music

Punters club

BALLARAT GREYHOUND CUP FINAL IN PROFILE

1 BELT UP BUBBS

My Bro Fabio-Zippy Chicki

Trainer: Brooke Ennis (Lara)

35 starts: 13-4-5

$57,725

Track/distance: 6-5-1-0

Won heat in 25.113sec

GRV WATCHDOG SAYS: Loves this track, but needs to step on terms. Place. 

2 SHADALE

Barcia Bale-Budgie Lass

Trainer: Robert Redenbach (Cranbourne)

58 starts: 18-15-5

$138,675

Track/distance: 3-1-1-0

Won heat in 25.411sec 

GRV WATCHDOG SAYS: Ultimate professional, but prefer out wide. Tested.

3 ASTON KIMETTO

KC and All-Sweet It Is

Trainer: Seona Thompson (Pearcedale)

18 starts: 9-1-5

$97,250

Track/distance: 1-1-0-0

Won heat in 24.956sec 

GRV WATCHDOG SAYS: Fastest heat winner, will charge late. Keep safe.

4 SPEED STAR

Fernando Bale-White Spyro

Trainer: Andrea Dailly (Anakie)

23 starts: 10-7-3

$24,690

Track/distance: 1-1-0-0

Won heat in 25.239sec

GRV WATCHDOG SAYS: Comes out running, but will get tired. Place best.

5 FULLY LOADED

Fernando Bale-Nicki Fields

Trainer: Neville Wakefield (Cranbourne)

52 starts: 28-9-6

$97,192

Track/distance: 1-1-0-0

Won heat in 24.961sec 

GRV WATCHDOG SAYS: Best beginner in racing. Slick heat winner, threat. 

6 DYNA HUNTER

Dyna Villa-Crystin Bale

Trainer: Steven Collins (Pearcedale)

31 starts: 15-2-4

$47,400

Track/distance: 4-3-1-0

Won heat in 25.158sec 

GRV WATCHDOG SAYS: Gifted chaser. Explodes mid race, take stopping.

7 SPRING BRIDGE

Trainer: Seona Thompson

SCRATCHED

8 DYNA PATTY

Fernando Bale-Unix Bale

Trainer: Andrea Dailly (Anakie)

34 starts: 12-6-5

$231,955

Track/distance: 1-1-0-0

Won heat in 25.038sec

GRV WATCHDOG SAYS: All star back to her best in heat. Danger again.

RESERVES

9 RIXY YA PEST

Dyna Double One-Fireball Fury

Trainer: Mathew Wright (Allansford)

Starts from box 7

35 starts: 14-8-1

$42,075

Track/distance: 4-2-1-0

Heat time 25.135sec 

GRV WATCHDOG SAYS: Impressive heat effort, but this is harder. Tested

10 SANJIRO

Barcia Bale-Socozie

Trainer: Jess Grima (Lang Lang)

17 starts: 9-4-2

$20,610

Track/distance: 2-1-1-0

Heat time 25.14

GRV WATCHDOG SAYS: Eye-catching run in his heat. Respect if runs.