First time Group finalists Deb Carr and heat surprise packet Nineteen Crimes will take aim at some of greyhound racing’s biggest names in Friday night’s $87,000 Group 2 Sportsbet Bendigo Cup Final (425m).

Named after a wine, Nineteen Crimes, also bred and raced by Carr, aced his biggest test to date with a ‘vintage’ 23.59sec heat victory, the second quickest performance from Sunday’s eight qualifiers.

Carr, who emigrated from England as a 21-year-old, came within a half-length of securing a second finalist when Top Payer, a litter brother to Nineteen Crimes, was claimed late by Quinlan Bale.

True to his name, Nineteen Crimes is getting better with age, winning six of his last eight starts, and is now $6.50 with Sportsbet to complete a feature race fairy tale in the $55,000 to-the-winner Cup (race 9, 9.38pm).

“When he won his heat, I was a little bit shocked, then I was really happy and then I thought ‘Oh my God, he’s in the final!”

“It’s a bit surreal, but it’s good fun!” said Carr, who’s based at Mininera, near Ararat.

“When he won his heat, I was a little bit shocked, then I was really happy and then I thought ‘Oh my God, he’s in the final! Hopefully, he’ll be competitive on Friday night.

“I was surprised at the time he ran. He’s got ability but it’s taken him a little while to work it all out.

“He’s just so keen. He fell at his first start at Ballarat and then he fell again in a final at Horsham. I think he’s decided it might help if I look where I’m going!” she added with a laugh.

WATCH: “There may be a bottle of Nineteen Crimes popped after that victory!” NINETEEN CRIMES (B4) is the second fastest qualifier for the Bendigo Cup after a 23.59sec heat win.

“This was only the fourth Cup heats I’ve ever raced in.

“Scuffy ran in the Sale Cup heats four years ago, Show Me Ziway was in last year’s Ballarat Cup heats and Nineteen Crimes’ brother, Top Payer, ran third in the Warrnambool Cup heats.”

Carr’s first Group finalist is especially satisfying, as she bred the January ’21 son of Lochinvar Marlow and Puzzles, which fatefully became a mother after missing out on the GAP program.

“She’s the sweetest dog but she’s a maniac,” Carr grinned.

“She was given to me when she was about three years old. I raced her a little bit, but she had a few hock issues.

“I took her to be assessed by GAP and I knew she would fail – and she did. I decided if you’re going to be at home, let’s have some babies. You can earn your keep!”

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Puzzles has indeed paid her way, with Nineteen Crimes (12 from 29) and Top Payer (10 from 35), the first reserve for the Cup Night Match Race, the stars of her first litter.

As Carr prepares to take on the might of the Thompson, Gibbons and Dailly kennels in the Bendigo showpiece, she has good cause to be optimistic her proudly homegrown talent can more than hold his own.

“I don’t see why he can’t,” she said bullishly.

“If he gets a clean jump, he’s in with a chance.

“It’s just little old me from the country. I have dogs from Tier 3 right through. They’re mostly home-bred. I just try and do the best with what I’ve got.

“I’m a ‘Pom’ originally! When I first came out to Australia I was working with polo ponies. I grew up on a farm in the UK and I’m a real animal person. I’ve had other jobs, in offices, but I’m happiest being around animals.

“I always wanted a greyhound as a pet and when I was given one, I started walking it and then off I went and got a trainers license about 12 or 13 years ago.

“My first dog was called Lillipilli Lady. She never won a race for me, but she went close. They are a little bit addictive!”

In addition to Nineteen Crimes, Carr also has Let Fly engaged in the Vic Bred Final (race 6) and Top Payer in race 11, if he doesn’t secure a run in the Match Race.