Owner-breeder Adele Powell nominated five for the 235 lot-strong catalogue and, having sold siblings earlier in the year for $5000, was expecting the Bombastic Shiraz youngsters to be in solid demand.

``The five pups were from two litters, with two being out of Outrageous Claim and the other three out of her mum, Outrageous Angel,'' Powell said.

The annual auction has a pot of gold some 18 months down the track and, tonight at Dapto, eight graduates vie for the $50,000 first prize.

On Parole is still with her breeder but there have been trying times.

``She was sold late in the day and did not attract a lot of attention, so we just bought her back,'' Powell said.

Some seven months later, it was time to test On Parole's ability and she travelled to NSW's Central West to be educated by Dennis and Anne Barnes at Cudal.

``And that's how she got her name," Powell said.

``She completely flipped out up there and was virtually unable to be handled.

``I rang after a week to see how things were going and Anne said we could not catch her after a trial and more troops were required to capture their escapee.''

Frustrated by her temperament, Dennis Barnes suggested she come home and while waiting to be collected, her kennel was marked ``never to be released''.

On Parole has since mended her ways and heads into the biggest race of her career with seven wins from 15 starts.

Box eight has dealt her no favours and Powell is just hoping for the best.

Her heat win (29.94) was in good enough time to win most races here but she will need all the breaks to get home first.''

Race favourite will be Nowra-based Puddy Muddles (box two). He registered the fastest semi-final win on Thursday and is well placed in box two.

Of the eight contenders, five are locally trained, with Jedd Lion looking to add to his Nowra Puppy Classic success while Puddy Muddles is out to avenge his placing in the Group One Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park on October 31, behind Dancing Surf.