The disappointment of missing a berth in The Phoenix could translate into an overdue and deserved Group 1 breakthrough for Lara trainers Jason and Jessica Sharp in Saturday night’s $160,500 Sportsbet Silver Chief Final (525m).

Hoping to celebrate their first Group 1 victory, the Sharps have the favourite and fastest qualifier for the Silver Chief in boom youngster Morton.

Considering Morton has won nine of his 14 starts, including seven from nine at The Meadows, highlighted by the fastest time of the year, 29.55sec, he was arguably the unluckiest sprinter not to secure a Phoenix slot.

Instead of racing for a $1 million winner’s purse, the son of former WA superstar Tommy Shelby is chasing a $100,000 bounty in the age and male-restricted Silver Chief, Victorian greyhound racing’s version of the Derby.

“I don’t think we’ve gone into a Group 1 as favourite before, and if he does everything right, he’s a really good chance of winning it.”

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“I don’t know what to say – it’s a hard one,” Jason Sharp said.

“I feel like he’s one of the best dogs going around at The Meadows at the moment. I don’t know what the slot holders are looking for.

“You live and learn. But you’ve got to be thinking what if.”

After not being picked up by a Phoenix slot-holder, the Sharps switched their focus to ‘Plan B’, last Saturday night’s heats of the Silver Chief, where Morton was the headline act.

Drawn in box six in the fourth of six heats, Morton started $1.60 and showed Phoenix slot-holders what they’d missed out on, leading all-the-way in a Best Of Night 29.705sec.

The other five heat winners were Fernando Phil (29.84sec), Shima Steel (29.87sec), All Talent (29.88sec), Rocket Riot (29.98sec), and Oregon Durant (30.05sec).

WATCH: “There’s no Phoenix but there’s a Silver Chief!” MORTON (B6) is the fastest qualifier for Saturday night’s G1 Silver Chief after a flying BON 29.705sec heat victory.

Morton’s nightmare run of draws then continued when he was allocated box five for the Silver Chief decider (race 8, 9.07pm).

His previous six starts have come from (in order) five, four, six, seven, six and six, which he’s overcome to record four wins and an unlucky second placing in a Melbourne Cup heat, beaten only a half-length by Idolize.

Prior to his horror streak commencing, Morton exited box one at Sandown Park and clocked a scorching 29.14sec.

Despite another tough alley, Morton is $2.70 favourite with Sportsbet to hand the Sharps their first Group 1 trophy at their eleventh attempt, ahead of Rocket Riot (box 2), prepared by five-time Silver Chief winner Jason Thompson, the $4.50 second elect.

Morton winning his G1 Silver Chief heat in a Best Of Night 29.705sec 📷 Clint Anderson

“Really good,” Jason Sharp said of Morton’s dominant heat victory.

“He hasn’t drawn well again, but he’s sort of used to it now.

“At first, I was a little bit concerned about Michelle’s (Mallia’s) dog (Fernando Phil – box 6), but after watching a few videos, he goes pretty straight.

“Wherever he drew he was going to have to begin, so I’m not too worried.

“He knows where he’s going, so hopefully it all works out and we can crack our first Group 1. It would be great to get that out of the way!

“Third in the Melbourne Cup (Kouta Mayhem, 2017) is probably the closest we’ve come to winning one.

“I don’t think we’ve gone into a Group 1 as favourite before, and if he does everything right, he’s a really good chance of winning it.”