Make Mine Memphis likely to start favourite for Group 1 TAB Western Regional Championships Final at Bathurst

Make Mine Memphis was a dominant winner in the opening round of heats and if he doesn't take a step back for the Group 1 finale then he is going to take some beating from a favourable draw.

Chris Frisby's Uncle Jord has the run from gate one while one of the other big names to watch in the final, Amanda Turnbull's Catch A Moment, will follow him out from the inside of the back row.

It's a challenging draw for Catch A Moment but with the way he won his heat it will only take a little bit of space for him to impose himself on the race.

Amanda Turnbull's other two heat winners from the opening round, Shoobee Doo and Animal, may have to do some work to get themselves involved.

Shoobee Doo still has the opportunity to get forward, or even lead, with a start from gate five while Animal has an opportunity to press forward from the back row as he goes out directly behind Make Mine Memphis.

Bathurst Harness Racing CEO Danny Dwyer said Make Mine Memphis is likely to start favourite among a classy field.

"Early odds suggest he'll be around an even money favourite and he's obviously got a great front running record. His heat win was very strong. From that draw he definitely holds the key to the race," he said.

"Shoobee Doo has drawn a little wide and could end up in the death seat if he goes forward. Catch A Moment has drawn inside the second row and will need luck from there.

"Animal probably got the best of the draws, starting two off the back row behind Make Mine Memphis. It should lob into a good position.

"Uncle Jord will enjoy the draw. He's got a good 300 to 400m burst of speed so he'll be happy to take the sit."

The Regional Championships Final is a replacement event for the Million Dollar Pace, which sadly had to be axed in its inaugural year due to COVID-19.

But there's no doubting the quality of this field, which certainly would have had several runners in contention for the original decider.

"We've run eight heats with the winners going through, plus the two fastest runners-up, and it's made for a quality field," Dwyer said.

"It's been a fantastic series. Hopefully down the track it could be something that we could run on an annual basis."

WESTERN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL: (Front row) 1 Uncle Jord, 2 Make Mine Memphis, 3 Terryrama, 4 Dark Terror, 5 Bettor Jiggle, 6 Shoobee Doo, (Back row) 9 Catch A Moment, 10 Animal, 11 Kanena Provlima, 12 Gabbys Sportstar