While the Melbourne Cup takes centres stage at Sandown Park tonight, greyhound fans will be treated to a double dose of Group One racing.
Just two races earlier, $100,000 is up for grabs for stayers in the 2014 Bold Trease.
Darren McDonald will rug up the favourite Sweet It Is from box three. Despite having won almost every important race on the calendar, the Bold Trease has been one that has so far eluded the astute Devon Meadows mentor.
Rob Britton will look to make it back-to-back wins in the race after he won the 2013 final with Cheetah Zorro. Britton is the only trainer in the race who has won the event in the past.
The Bold Trease is Race Six on the card and is scheduled to jump at 8:38pm.
Here is a look at each dog in detail with comments from connections;
ARG Comments: Made the most of his opportunities to flash home and score in 42.04 last week. That was his first win at the track in six attempts. He will need to begin well to be an chance of competing here.
Peter Dapiran (Trainer): “The draw looks to have helped her, it is what you want to be drawn close to the fence with both Sweet It Is and Beks usually reasonably slow away. She should get a good look at the lure. She got a little bit tangled up last week and, by the time she balanced up the run on dogs had a little bit too much momentum and just got her on the line.”
Braden Finn (Owner):“I spoke to Darren yesterday and he said the bitch is as good as ever and jumping out of her skin he's just hoping for a clear run! It looks a very good race with the 2 dogs on the rise Space Star and Blinker's On improving all the time should be a good final all dogs worthy of their spot in the race. I think the six should come out and lead and give the pink a nice cart over which will make him hard to beat.”
Robert Britton (Trainer): “It was exciting to have a dog with so much ability come into the kennel, you often get pups who are a little more average so it was great to have him come in. We knew he had a big motor and it was good to see him get off the track last week where he wants to be, that allowed him to show what he can do. It was a good field in his heat but when you are running 41.6 then you wouldn't be too disappointed if you got beat. To be honest I am not too happy with this week's draw with the pace on his outside. I am hoping he can get a clear run early but you just wonder how it will happen. It could be a big night for us, but I have learnt over many years to not get too excited, they don't give these sort of races away, that's for sure.”
Michael Chilcott (Trainer): “He has drawn the worst box and is between the two fastest dogs in the race but you can not do much about that. He has enough pace to be up there but got shuffled back from second to second last in the heat, if he is sitting midfield heading for home, you never know.”
ARG Comment: Front running bitch who looks the likely leader in the race. Led all the way in her heat, winning in 42.07. That was her first win over the trip in three attempts. She will have to improve on that time to take this race out.
David Curtain (Trainer): “He has a lot of ability and is maturing all the time. I think nearly every dog copped some interference in his heat and he did well coming back but that is why the time isn't real flash. There is no stress and no expectation, whatever he does is a bonus.”
Jamie Ennis (Kennel Representative): “If you could draw the field the way you wanted to, this would have to be close to it. He should get a great cart over and be right in the race. He trialled over 600 before last week and was simply outstanding, he was very unlucky last week and probably should have won easily. But you have those nights and it was one where nothing went our way. He should get a lot more luck this week given the way the field is drawn. You can never be too confident with Sweet It Is in the race, she can do freakish things and run down anyone when things go her way.”
ARG Comments: Quality race bitch who found trouble when crossing to lead last week. She has plenty of Group racing experience and would be far from the worst if she gained a start.
ARG Comments: A run on type who does most of her racing in easier classes. She will be a fair way back in this type of field and looks tested.
Best Sandown Park Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
NBT
42.32
6.27
6.27
The early pace in the race looks likely to come from Mystic Twist (6) and Zipping Maggie (2).
This should give Blinker's On (8) a beautiful cart across into the action. Should he be afforded a clear run, he will take some running down.
Champion bitch Sweet It Is (3) will be worse than midfield early and is sure to be running home like a hungry school kid. If she gets a clear run in transit, she will add a fourth Group One title to her impressive curriculum vitae.
Space Star (4) set the time standard in the heats and had tons of ability. He will need to avoid dogs cutting across him early if he expects to use the track as usual.
