It has been described as the best night of greyhound racing in the world, and we have to fully agree. Tonight at Sandown Park in Melbourne, all twelve races are heats of a Group 1, the first four races being heats of the Bold Trease (715m) for the stayers, followed by eight heats of the 2022 Melbourne Cup (515m) for the sprinters. All on the same program, the best stayers and the best sprinters in the land, we can’t wait. All the fields are stacked with depth and finding the winners will not be an easy task. Here is our selection for all twelve races at Sandown Park tonight.
Race 1 No 1 Osprey Storm $3.20 at PlayUp – Relative newcomer to the staying ranks but shows enormous potential. Ideal draw for him here and he should be able to camp on the expected leaders, Untapped (4) and Aston Velvet (6), then prove too strong late. Selections: 1-4-7-6.
Race 2 No 3 Moraine Suzie $2.60 at PlayUp – Outstanding winner of the Group 1 Top Gun Stayers at The Meadows at her most recent start, coming off a short break. That run should have improved her further abs we expect her to be too strong late for this field. If the real Ariarne Bale (6) turns up she is a real danger, and Keen (1) is always in the money. Selections: 3-6-1-7.
Race 3 No 2 Tsar Bell $2.30 at PlayUp – West Australian stayer who finished second in the final of the National Distance Championship recently, at Wentworth Park. Trialled superbly here last week between races. He does get back in his races but is strong late. Main danger appears to staying newcomer, Extreme Jewel (3), who has been impressive on the country circuit and is the likely leader. Expect Overflow Lisa (5) to be strong late also. Selections: 2-3-5-6.
Race 4 No 1 Mepunga Ruby $1.55 at PlayUp – Outstanding stayer who is closing in on half millions dollars in stake money. Resumed from four month break with an excellent second in the recent Group 1 Top Gun. Excels at this venue. Should lead and win. Best bet of the night. Zipping Virginia (2) will have benefitted greatly from her run here last start and looks the only real danger, if any. Selections: 1-2-6-3.
Race 5 No 1 Boo Boo Billy $4.20 at PlayUp – The box draw places this dog right in the race. Lightly raced but does like the rails and should be able to sit on the likely leader, Idolise (4). Zippy Tesla (2) will be flashing late, we have no doubt. Selections: 1-2-5-4.
Race 6 No 8 Mepunga Mustang $8.00 at PlayUp – Tough race to assess as the favourite, Amplified (1), was disappointing her last week but is expected to improved from the rails draw. Our selection does like a wide draw, winning six from ten out of this box. Will need some luck but expect him to be strong late. Yachi Bale (7) was outstanding last week and he will figure prominently at the finish. And don’t forget McInerney (4), in career best form. Difficult race. Selections: 8-7-4-1.
Race 7 No 4 Shipwreck $3.90 at PlayUp – one of our two long range selections for the final. Outstanding here last week in his first look at this track, when run down late in very fast time, by Amron Boy. Will go one better tonight. Kelsey Bale (3) has been outstanding of late and will be in the finish. Photo Man (7) is drawn to be close to the lead, whilst El Dorado (2) loves this track. Selections: 4-3-2-7.
Race 8 No 4 Plaintiff $2.90 at PlayUp – What a race this promises to be. Expect Plaintiff and She’s A Pearl (5) to go head the head for the majority of the trip, and only the inside makes us lean to Plaintiff. Zipping Orlando (8) was huge here last week and he a definite danger, so strong late. Selections: 4-8-5-1.
Race 9 No 2 Paddy Wants Pats $2.45 at PlayUp – Our other early selection to win the final and he is drawn to lead and win this heat. Runs consistently fast to the first turn each week and should do so again. Last weeks Shootout winner Wow She’s Fast (7) is poorly drawn but she is a superstar and she will be rattling home along the rails. Expect improvement from Zipping Lopez from his draw. Selections: 2-7-1-3.
Race 10 No 6 Amron Boy $3.00 at PlayUp – The win of Amron Boy last Saturday night was simply outstanding, from the same box he has drawn tonight, running faster time than the Shootout. He is the fastest dog in the race, but he will need some luck from the draw. Expect Typhoon Sammy (8) to lead but he is suspect over the 515m trip, Salad Dodger (3) is a very promising galloper and he will look the winner at some stage. Expect improved run from the NSW galloper Gatlin (7) also. Selections: 6-3-7-1.
Race 11 No 2 Mallee Magic $13.00 at PlayUp – On paper this looks the easiest heat to win but it is the toughest to find the winner in. We have selected Mallee Magic, on an each way basis. His run here last week was excellent and will have benefitted from that. He has been the best dog in Adelaide for some time now, so he has the experience. Strong late. Devine Empress (4) is highly talented and if she finds the lead she will be hard to beat, but she had limited racing of late. WA Star Vice Grip (5) is never far away, and don’t leave the red out of your exotics. Selection: 2-5-1-4.
Race 12 No 5 Zipping Kyrgios $4.60 at PlayUp – He is a proven group performer who will be improved by his run here last week. Strong as an ox so don’t panic when he is not in front early. We are expecting Dundee Smokey (2) to run a super race out in front, it is just the last twenty metres that worries us. Fernando Mick is racing in career best form so he must be given some chance also. Selections: 5-2-1-8.
