‘Team Greenough’ (Kel and Jackie) are emitting ‘positive energy’ – albeit with a small disclaimer – ahead of the heats of the Group 1 Adelaide Cup (530m) on Thursday night.

Their X-factor sprinter, Big Energy, headlines an all-star Victorian contingent heading to Angle Park for the $100,000 to-the-winner series. (The Greenoughs won the 2004 Adelaide Cup with Hotline Hero.)

An ex-Sandgroper, Big Energy – a winner of 10 from 21, including seven from 14 for the Greenoughs – will exit from Box 6 in Heat 3 (Race 7, 9.22pm).

“It’s a bit of a different situation in Adelaide with the silent lure at Angle Park,” Kel said. “The closer to the inside the better.

“If he can repeat that performance and get the start right, he’ll make the Adelaide Cup final.”

“The fact Big Energy has the ‘green’ rug puts a seed of doubt into my mind… Being drawn out wide, that’s the only query.”

Greenough says Big Energy is “not a big strong dog and doesn’t like being ‘whacked about’”.

“He also needs luck early as he’s not a brilliant beginner, and he’s not extra quick early. He’s better with a clear run,” he added.

Big Energy revealed dramatic improvement from a 30.42sec Angle Park trial when he finished overall second, clocking 30.13sec, to Schillaci (30.03sec) in last week’s Match Race Challenge. Another Victorian, Transponder (30.26sec), posted the third fastest time.

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“If he can repeat that performance and get the start right, he’ll make the Adelaide Cup final,” Greenough said.

Interestingly, Transponder (Box 7) – trained by Jason Thompson – will contest Heat 4 (Race 8, 9.43pm).

Transponder, a winner of 18 from 35, has established somewhat of a rivalry with Big Energy.

Back in early April, Big Energy took the honours defeating Transponder by 6L in the Launching Pad Runway final. Big Energy semaphored a scintillating 28.93sec – the sixth-fastest time ever over 515m at Sandown Park.

Transponder is among an all-star Victorian contingent contesting the G1 Adelaide Cup series. 📷 Jason Mckeown

However, Transponder turned the tables in late August when he defeated Big Energy in a Speed Star heat – once again at Sandown Park – by 1.3L in 29.26sec.

Big Energy is $1.65F on Sportsbet to take out his heat while Transponder is $1.45F.

Meanwhile, Amron Boy ($1.30F) and Launch Code ($2.35F) – both trained by Brooke Ennis – head the market in Heat 1 and Heat 2 respectively.

The overall Speed Star winner was the Jason Sharp-trained Afire (29.23sec), who will also represent the ‘Big V’ in the Adelaide Cup series as will Victorian counterpart Mepunga Smokey (Jeff Britton).

WATCH: BIG ENERGY (B1) clocks a sizzling 28.93sec defeating TRANSPONDER (B2) in the Launching Pad Runway final.

Mepunga Smokey and Launch Code also won Speed Star heats in 29.29sec and 29.30sec respectively.

Other Victorians competing in the Adelaide Cup series are Weblec Wolf, Navarino, Departed and Crackerjack Bull.

Schillaci ($2.50) tops ‘All In’ betting from Amron Boy ($3.60), Transponder ($4.00) and Big Energy ($4.20).

Pawnote: Victoria’s ‘next big thing’ Schillaci, prepared by Jihad Talgi, has earned a ‘golden ticket’ into the Adelaide Cup final courtesy of his magical Match Race Challenge success last week.