Simply outstanding are the best words to describe the greyhound racing action on Thursday night, when New Zealand and all six Australian states, conducted their finals of the National Sprint and the National Distance Championships. And the results threw up a mixed bag, with a number of short-priced favourites scoring but also a number of long priced greyhounds winning. The winners of all the finals have now earned the right to contest the National Championship finals to be held at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, 27 August. We will provide a more detailed analysis of both races on race day, but our early thoughts have us favouring the New South Wales representatives in both the finals. Simply Limelight’s win on Thursday, in the Sprint, was an outstanding display of chasing, whilst in the NSW Distance final, Super Estrella went within a length of the Wentworth Park track record, so a repeat of that effort will see her winning again. One thing we can guarantee is that it will be a great night of racing.
Tonight we have racing at The Meadows, Warragul (VIC), Wentworth Park, Dubbo, The Gardens (NSW), Ipswich (QLD), and Cannington (WA). With no group racing being held, the quality of fields is down on recent times, however we think this has made finding a winner easier, and we have identified six for our followers to invest on. Hopefully our recent run of success can continue again tonight.
The Meadows Race 2 No 7 Keen $2.40 at PlayUp – Litter brother to the super star New South Wales sprinter She’s A Pearl, who is making his own name in the sport. Recently won the Queensland Middle Distance (600m) Championship at Group 3 level at Albion Park and was a Group 1 finalist in the Hobart Thousand late last year. Excellent win last outing at Sandown in a field much stronger than tonight. Not well drawn, as he down like to get to the rails, but he handles himself well in fields and can still get the job done for punters.
Dubbo Race 8 No 1 Irinka Molly $2.50 at PlayUp – Does not win out of turn but gets her chance
tonight from this favourable inside draw. Does race well at this venue, where she has won three races, and she does love an inside box. She has the speed to hold the inside and the lead, from the draw, and having raced well over a middle distance previously, she does have the strength to hold them off once she is in front.
The Meadows Race 4 No 1 Georgia Keeping $3.80 at PlayUp – Costly of punters here last week when she finished third from box one of the sprint trip. We think stepping up to the middle distance tonight will change the result. The majority of her career wins have been in this distance range. She will lead clearly tonight from the draw, unlike last week when she was pressured throughout, and she has the strength to hold the opposition at bay. Yes.
Wentworth Park Race 7 No 1 Foxy Bourbski $2.50 at PlayUp – Solid form in Victoria early in her career when trained by Team Dailly. Now back in NSW with her owners, and she has recovered her good form, winning nicely at her last two starts, both over a middle distance. Her last win at Bathurst, especially, was impressive and gave the impression that the step up to the 720m trip would not pose an issue. Almost certain to lead, however it may be hold our breathe stuff in the last fifty metres but she is worth the risk.
Wentworth Park Race 9 No 2 Silver Luck $2.50 at PlayUp – Checked at the start and then almost
knocked over outside rail at the first corner before finishing third at this track and distance last week. After all the early trouble last week, still hit the line quite well so running the trip is now issue. Drawn to find the early lead tonight, and once in front he will take a power of beating. We think he is the best bet of the night so your banker in all your multi bets.
Wentworth Park Race 10 No 2 Glittering Mia $2.20 at PlayUp – Very impressive winner at this track at her most recent start, leading throughout for a nice win in good time. This field is no stronger, and from the draw she should be able to find the lead early. And if she leads, she wins.
