STAR Tasmanian greyhound Buckle Up Wes made his way into the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg final when he finished a game second in his semi-final over 520 metres at Wentworth Park in Sydney on Saturday night.
Buckle Up Wes was sent out the $2 favourite but he had his colours lowered by a near rank outsider Magic Display that led all the way to win at $31.
The Tasmanian dog began well from box four but copped a bump early and he bounced off the dogs either side which left him three lengths in arrears heading down the back stretch.
He loomed to close in on the leader near the line but was crowded by the eventual third placegetter Ritza Hattie.
The Ted Medhurst-trained dog was still doing good work at the business end of the race and still looms as the one to beat in the final that offers $250,000 to the winner.
Varcoe was the only other Tasmanian semi-finalists and he had no luck in finishing sixth in his semi.
He began fairly from box seven and immediately copped a severe bump that almost took his legs from under him. He tried valiantly to make up ground but another check midrace ended his chances of making it to the final.
The Golden Easter Egg final will be run over 5209 metres at WentworthPark next Saturday night.