A small-time greyhound trainer is dreaming about a career-topping win in this Saturday night's Ballarat Cup final.
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Pasquale Derubeis will make the trip from Phillip Island with his greyhound Almapa Berisha for the group 2 feature.
The son of Fernando Bale was the slowest of the four heat winners last weekend and Derubeis is hoping for some luck to land the $47,000 winner's cheque.
"He likes box eight. He's had 14 wins and five have come out of box eight so he loves the outside," he said.
"...this is going to be his hardest race to date now.
"All he needs is a bit of luck and who knows? There could be a bit of trouble on the first corner, he goes around them and when you lead I guess they've got to catch you, don't they?"
Derubeis and his family got involved in greyhound racing on the back of some personal tragedy as a way to stick together and have some fun.
From being an owner and breeder, Derubeis was convinced to get his trainer's licence about five years ago. And he now mixes a training career with his full-time job as a baker.
Derubeis has just two dogs in work at present and will bring both to Ballarat. Almapa Berisha's brother Almapa Sunshine will also run on Saturday night.
