El Dorado Eyes Group 1 Nationals Gold

EL Dorado's fourth birthday might be fast approaching, but the resurgent Victorian National Sprint contender is thriving in his ‘golden' years.

Postman Pat, Amron Boy and Baby Jaycee were the headline acts leading into last Saturday night's state National Sprint heats at The Meadows, but El Dorado stole the show, continuing his remarkable late career renaissance.

El Dorado extended his winning streak to four, each victory coming at The Meadows, with a dominant performance in the second of three heats, leading throughout in a Best Of Night 29.78sec.

FIELDS AND FORM THE MEADOWS THURSDAY

The prolific speedster started $7.30 but left Melbourne Cup winner Yachi Bale and favourite Baby Jaycee in his wake in a performance astute Blind Bight trainer/breeder Daryl Holmes rated up with the very best of his 24 career wins.

While the son of Mepunga Blazer and Gold Vein turns four in November, he's aging like a fine wine, perhaps a (Black) Shiraz – in line with Holmes' champion stud dog of yesteryear.

El Dorado's runaway heat victory followed a PB 29.69sec performance one week earlier, having also smashed the 30 second barrier in winning his previous two starts in 29.88sec and 29.81sec, boosting his Meadows record to eight from 17.

"He's going super," said Holmes.

"I'd say his last two wins have been the equal of his Melbourne Cup heat win (defeated Kelsey Bale in BON 29.35sec), as the best runs of his career.

"Even more so with his first section the last two weeks. He's gone 5.04sec and 5.07sec. His previous best might've been 5.10sec.

"Back in March he ran sixth of six in a 595m at Sandown, and he'd torn a stomach muscle. I'd never had one do that before – he could hardly walk for two days.

"The injury healed up quicker than we thought it would, but I think he lost some confidence because it would've hurt so much. I just think he's got his confidence back now – he's found his zone."

A G1 Melbourne Cup finalist and G1 Rookie Rebel placegetter, El Dorado was the clear standout on the clock in the Vic Sprint heats, the other two run-offs won by Tinker Norm in 29.89sec and Landyn Bale 30.02sec.

Notably, hot favourites were beaten in each run-off – Amron Boy (2nd at $1.70), Baby Jaycee (3rd at $2.80) and Postman Pat (3rd at $1.60).

While their colours were lowered in qualifying, Postman Pat (box 5) and Amron Boy (box 3) dominate Sportsbet's market on Thursday night's final (race 8, 8.43pm) at $1.80 and $3.60, respectively.

First reserve Baby Jaycee is next in betting at $4.20, with El Dorado $8 after being allocated box six, with the draw an obvious concern for Holmes.

"Box six has probably fixed us up," he said.

"He does seem to begin better from inside boxes.

"It's not just beginning from a wide box; you can't afford to get trapped three-wide.

"I give him a chance, but he's got to run his 5.05sec. 

"I think Landyn Bale (box 8) will lead, so we need to miss him, and I think we can run him down. That's our chance.

"It's a tricky race. There's every chance the Victorian dog will start favourite in the final, The Meadows is a big leveller."

If there is a scratching and first reserve Baby Jaycee is elevated into the field, the G1 Sapphire Crown winner will automatically secure a berth in the G1 National Grand Final, also to be held at The Meadows, on Saturday, August 26.

Baby Jaycee would qualify as the ‘wild card', the highest rated sprinter in the Greyhound Clubs Australia (GCA) rankings to compete in but not win its state final.

If Baby Jaycee doesn't receive an eleventh-hour reprieve, the ‘wild card' will go to NSW State finalist Wyndra All Class.