Garry Selkrig is optimistic Healesville specialist Peter Galo can put a wretched injury run behind him in Sunday afternoon’s Victorian heats of the inaugural National Straight Track Championship.

The winner of 14 of 21 career starts at Healesville, including 5 of his last 6, Peter Galo is one of the leading Victorian contenders for the Straight Track series, which will also feature short-coursers from Queensland (Capalaba) and South Australia (Murray Bridge).

Kick-starting the first Healesville Cup Carnival, the National Straight Track Championship offers a $35,000 winner’s purse, with the battle for the two host state berths to begin in earnest with three heats on Sunday.

Winner of the 2018 Shepparton Cup, Peter Galo will exit box two in the third and final heat, where his main dangers appear to be another country cup winner in Dyna Hunter (box 3) and Startron (box 7).

“He’s going tremendously,” Selkrig said of Peter Galo.

“He’s just been injury prone. I actually feel sorry for the dog.

“If he hadn’t had the injuries he’s had he would have cleaned up everything. And that’s an understatement. The dog is a freak when he’s right.

“That’s why he races at Healesville – he can handle the straight with the problems he’s had.

“He can come out just a bit slow so he’ll probably need a bit of luck from box two. But life is all about luck and being in the right place at the right time!

“If he draws the eight he’s unbeatable. If he runs a placing on Sunday he should make the final and if he draws the eight box or out wide I wouldn’t be worried about any other dog.

“As long as he holds up, of course he’s capable of going all the way!”

Angela Galea’s Time To Talk and Andrew Paraskevas’ Nervous An Weird shape at the testing material in heats one and two respectively as Victoria prepares to mount an imposing home-track assault on the National Championship.

“It’s a great concept and the prizemoney is enormous,” Selkrig said.