Isnt She Special All Set For Oaks

ROYCE Barbour admits he might have been tempting fate by giving one of the first ever greyhound litter's he and his family bred the name Isnt She Special.

Royce and his wife Tricia and their son Scott race the bitch.

The daughter of Fabregas and Just Like Tina runs in the Capalaba Oaks (366m) on Sunday and the Barbours give the bitch a huge chance despite her lack of experience up the straight track.

"The box draw will be done tomorrow (Thursday) and we are hoping for a wide draw," said Royce.

"She has shown her liking for a wide draw in the past and won off the eight in her heat."

Isnt She Special, trained by Hall of Famer Tony Zammit, ran 20.05 to win her heat last weekend beating Stern and Bonne Chance.

The other two heats were won by Alpha Styx (19.97) and Polly's Gift (19.99).

Selena Zammit trains Alpha Styx but Glen Boody at Deception Bay prepares Polly's Gift and her littermate Kimm's Choice.

It is the latter that the Barbour family is most concerned about in Sunday's Oaks final.

"Kimm's Choice is obviously the one to beat," said Royce.

"She has all the experience up Capalaba and has won there in a fast 19.60."

Kimm's Choice (Barcia Bale-Ruby Beltah) has won nine races and five of those have been at Capalaba.

The Barbours got into greyhound racing when they bought dam Just Like Tina (Just The Best-Tina's Show) as a pup from breeder Dan Henry. It is one of the strongest female families to have been produced in Queensland and recent stars from the family include Group 1 performer Outside Pass.

"She was our first dog and we bred our first ever litter from her," said Royce.

"Five of the six pups from the Fabregas litter have won already."

Just Like Tina has a six-week-old litter by Magic Sprite. Some will be available for sale at three months. They are bred on an identical cross to champion Queenslander Cyndie's Magic.

The Barbours are full of praise for trainer Tony Zammit.

"The bitch broke in very well as a pup and we went looking for a trainer," said Royce.

"It is not easy to get trainers to take youngsters straight from breaking in, but Tony took two of the litter for us and we have been so happy with how they have turned out."

A Capalaba Oaks victory on Sunday would be the icing on the cake.