Kayla Cottrell could etch her name into greyhound racing history on Saturday night and she’d do it alongside another rising star of the sport.

The 23-year-old Cranbourne trainer will line up Dashing Slay in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park, where victory would make her the 10th female trainer ever to win the sport’s most prestigious sprint.

It’s a milestone Cottrell and fellow finalist Jess Hopkins are a good chance at reaching the landmark moment for women in racing.

“It’s a level playing field now – we don’t even think twice about being male or female in greyhound racing,” she said.

“This year’s Melbourne Cup is full of younger trainers. We’re all trying our best and have had great mentors along the way.”

Alongside Cottrell is Ned McDonald (25) and Jess Hopkins (35). All live chances in this year’s Sportsbet Melbourne Cup.

Cottrell is also on the brink of another slice of history, with the chance to become the youngest trainer ever to win a Melbourne Cup. But she insists the reality of it all hasn’t sunk in.

Dashing Slay wins a heat of the Sportsbet Melbourne Cup from box five.

“I’m not sure it has hit me yet,” she said.

“We’ve never made a Melbourne Cup before. I feel like a little girl screaming with joy on the inside, but on the outside I’m trying to stay cool, calm and collected.”

Her finalist, Dashing Slay, already delivered Cottrell a breakthrough moment in April when they combined to win the Group 3 Launching Pad on the same track and distance.

“She gives 120 per cent every time,” Cotrell said.

“She gets shoved around in races and picks herself up – you don’t find too many greyhounds like that. You never go to the races thinking she’ll put in a bad one. She has a big heart for a little dog.”

Cottrell is “quietly confident” ahead of Saturday’s final, happy with box five and buoyed by how well the brindle chaser has pulled up.

“She’s happy in herself, and she used that same draw to her advantage in the heat.”