Poke The Bear is a unique mixture of striking good looks and phenomenal racing abilities. And it’s not just his trainer Seona Thompson who thinks this [I am included, and I am sure you are too].

In a recent interview this week, Seona expressed her excitement to Simone Fisher about Poke The Bear’s return to his favourite track – The Meadows.

On Saturday night, Poke The Bear find himself in the hand-selected Group 1 Temlee following his second placing to Orson Allen in the Group 2 Cranbourne Cup last weekend.

“On paper in the Cranbourne Cup, he was perfectly drawn close to the fence which is where he loves to be,” Seona said.

“Orson Allen was brilliant in carving out sensational times in front. It is hard to run down these sorts of dogs.”

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WATCH: Orson Allen (box three) claim the Group 2 Cranbourne Cup over Poke The Bear (box two)

“Poke The Bear’s heat win was massive and from the position he found himself in I was just hoping that he could run a place but, he worked his way through to win. He was also gallant in his second placing in the final.”

Poke The Bear has drawn box four and is sitting in the second line of betting at $3.50 behind Orson Allen (box two) at $2.50.

“He will be wanting to get down, but hopefully he stays out and get around them on the first turn,” Seona said.

“If he can get to the fence he is definitely going to be in the finish.”

The son of Fernando Bale x Nicki Fields is last years Meadows Greyhound Of The Year partly thanks to his Group 1 Topgun victory and a 29.46sec (5.02sec early) run over the 525 metre distance.

“He doesn’t seem to be beginning as well as that right at the moment but hopefully once he gets back to The Meadows, he can pull it all together,” Seona said.

“In any group race with quality fields, like this is on Saturday night, he will have to do everything right.”

“He gives 100 percent every time he goes around and that shows in pretty much every start he has.”

The Group 1 Temlee is worth $100,000 to-the-winner and is the headline of the three Group 1 races at The Meadows on Saturday night. It is also the first week of the rich Australian Cup Carnival.

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WATCH: George Farrugia and James Van de Maat have tipped both the Warragul and Cranbourne Cup winners between them. This time around they have the same mind set. Their 100% tipping strike rate between them hangs on one greyhound