Zara Zulu scored her sixth win in 11 career starts when she began brilliantly from box eight and clocked 29.61 in winning her semi-final by 6lengths last Friday.

‘‘That was a fantastic win, probably the best of her career, because she beat a quality field and the time was there,’’ Hume said.

‘‘She has pulled up really well, and if she can repeat that run in the final then you would have to think she will be a good chance of winning.

‘‘But the start from box five will be all-important.

‘‘She steps good and goes and possesses a lot of explosive pace, but I would have preferred an inside or outside box instead of the five.’’

Hume prepares a small team at Bunyip, an hour east of Melbourne, and has been training for about 30 years.

Zara Zulu is owned by Hume’s partner, Geoff Collins, who also owns litter sister By Starlight, which will also contest the final.

By Starlight, which Mick Fearnley trains at Yinnar, about another hour further east of Bunyip, ran 29.79 in winning her heat on January 20 before finishing third, beaten 1lengths by Olive Millie in her semi-final last week.

Collins, who has been looking after the sisters while they have been in Newcastle, stands their sire, Mogambo, which he owns with Irishman Seamus Sutcliffe, on their property, Hume said.

Mogambo, which won 12 races from 28 starts, came from the first litter produced by Zarbo, which Sutcliffe bought from Martin Hallinan in 2005.

‘‘Because Mogambo stands on the property, that is why we only keep some greyhounds ourselves and farm the rest out to other trainers,’’ Hume said.

‘‘Really, I don’t know what made us keep Zara Zulu at home, but she is really a dear little thing and a lovely kennel dog.

‘‘On their day there is almost nothing between Zara Zulu and By Starlight in ability. They are both very pacy girls.

‘‘And they are usually both very quick out of the boxes, although By Starlight does have a tendency to paw at the ground at times after being locked away.’’

Hume said the first couple of steps could decide the fate for Zara Zulu in the final.

‘‘She will step and go but much will depend on what happens around her.

‘‘She finished fourth behind By Starlight in her heat two weeks ago but no doubt she should have finished closer.

‘‘She began well from box seven but got chopped out early when the six jumped outwards and the eight cut towards the rail.

‘‘Last week with a clear run off box eight she showed what she is capable of.’’