Despite the attention of greyhound followers being firmly focused on Saturday night’s Group 1 Australian Cup (525m) final at The Meadows in Melbourne, and understandably so, we still have a very fine night of racing ahead of us tonight across the country. With Albion Park out of action this week in Queensland, racing will be held at Ipswich tonight which will make for a nice change. Racing will also held at Dapto, Sandown Park, Warrnambool, Hobart, Angle Park, and Mandurah.
The build up to Australian Cup night has been huge, with a great field of sprinters primed to face the starter at 9.02pm on Saturday. But it is not just the final of the cup that is attracting all the attention. Remember that there is also another Group 1 final on the program, the final of the Fanta Bale Super Stayers (730m), again with a high-quality field to face the starter. These two group races aside, the support program is considered outstanding. The GRV VicBred Maiden (525m) final, a Group 3 event, worth $25,000 to winning connections, the Country Championship (525m), also a Group 3, plus the Cup Night Middle Distance (600m) event. And to top the night off, the Australian Cup Consolation (525m), where we will again see the clash of three super sprinters, Amron Boy, Kelsey Bale and Wow She’s Fast, the same three greyhounds that fought out the finish of the recent Group 1 Temlee (525m) only two weeks ago. To think that these three quality greyhounds missed the final of the Australian Cup is astounding, but it confirms how good the cup final field is. We will have a full preview of the meeting for our followers on Saturday, with hopefully plenty of winners.
Sandown Race 1 No 1 Pepita $2.10 at PlayUp – This lightly raced sprinter is a litter sister to star galloper Eldorado. Resuming from a two month break tonight but did show enormous promise in her five racetrack appearances to date. This breed loves a rails draw so she is perfectly placed in box one. Did record her only win to date at this track and distance. This field is not strong, looks the best bet of the night so make her your banker in your multi bets.
Sandown Race 3 No 2 Trending Yale $2.50 at PlayUp – Drops back massively in grade tonight having raced in open company at her last two starts, both at The Meadows. Won an Australian Cup Prelude in nice time two starts back before recording a nice fourth in an Australian Cup heat last start. Back to a Grade 6 tonight should see her winning. Blessed with very good ability and a strong finish, we think she will have little trouble accounting for this field.
Sandown Race 6 No 5 Lady Lily Hook $4.00 at PlayUp – Winner of nine races plus ten minor placings, from just twenty-seven starts to date. Huge run here on Sunday in a heat of this event, when she looked uncomfortable from her inside draw. She does seem to begin better when drawn out, so don’t let the middle draw worry you. Very strong late and she only has to get a clear run and she will be finishing over the top of them. Promising middle distance career is ahead for this chaser who is a member of an underrated kennel.
Dapto Race 7 No 8 Father Rick $1.90 at PlayUp – Another greyhound who we have selected on several occasions and always seems to find one better. But tonight, we think he can get the job done from his favourable wide draw and against a field we consider not as strong as he has been racing against of late. He will need to jump well and get into a forward position early, but he is more than capable of doing this. He does like to race away from the rails, so the box draw does look perfect. Nice greyhound.
Ipswich Race 8 No 3 Hara’s Skye $1.85 at PlayUp – No more consistent greyhound racing in Queensland at present, being in the money twenty-six times, including fifteen wins, from her thirty-one career starts. Loves this track, winning eight times here already. Begins well, rails hard and is strong. Yes, she is short in the market, but she does look the winner. A greyhound to continue to follow into the future.
Sandown Race 11 No 4 Rothwell Rose $8.50 at PlayUp – We have gone for some each way value here. Generally, a very good beginner and when she is in front she is very hard to run down. She looks capable of leading this field despite the middle draw. The field does lack depth so once in front it is hard to see her missing a place. Go each way.
