2015 Group 2 Bulli Cyril Rowe Cup final – tips, odds and preview
VICTORIA look set to take home another Group trophy from New South Wales in Friday night's Group 2 Cyril Rowe Cup final at Bulli, with Lovely Banks trainer Kelly Bravo qualifying three runners.
Ride The Rails was the fastest of her trio, clocking a sizzling time of 25.94 over the 472-metre journey in his heat last week. Bravo's other heat winner Kayda Shae also impressed on a wet surface, clocking a speedy 26.23, with her third finalist, Waymore's Blues, running second in his heat to qualify for the feature.
The other heat winners were Wuxi for Luke Azzopardi (26.33), Aston Wingard for Troy Murray (26.47) and Fantastic Sid for Jason Fletcher (26.50).
Some outstanding greyhounds have been victorious in this event over the past few years including Goodesy, Prince Diablo and Gradence.
The winner will collect $40,000 for their efforts, with the final scheduled to jump at 9.38pm EDT.
Lets have a look at the form of each runner, with comments and tips from ARG's form analyst, Brad Bugeja.
If you think Brad is on the money, open an account with William Hill for up to $700 in bonus bets to place on the final.
Box One: Ride The Rails
Black Dog – 34.8kg – October 2011
Cosmic Chief x Pearl Napoleon
Trainer: Kelly Bravo
Career: 67:26-15-9
Prizemoney: $162,690
T/D: 1:1-0-0
T/D Best: 25.94
Career Highlights: 2nd 2014 Group 1 Hobart Thousand, 3rd 2015 Group 2 Warragul Cup Final, WON Ballarat 22.32, WON Shepparton 25.40, WON Warragul 25.49, WON Bendigo 28.10, WON Sandown 29.17, WON Launceston 29.66, WON The Meadows 29.90, 34.20
“One of the most gifted chasers in training and he blew away his rivals when posting a scorching 25.94 win here last week. The big concern with him tonight is the box draw, he isn't the best of beginners and he needs room to move in the early stages. He is clearly a great winning chance but I wouldn't be willing to take short odds.”
Odds to win the Cyril Rowe Gold Cup: $2.25 with William Hill
Box Two: Fantastic Sid
Black Dog – 31.9kg – January 2013
Spiral Nikita x Light Fantastic
Trainer: Jason Fletcher
Career: 27:13-6-3
Prizemoney: $32,800
T/D: 3:3-0-0
T/D Best: 26.29
Career Highlights: 2nd 2015 Group 3 Nowra Puppy Classic Final, WON Maitland 25.22, WON Dapto 29.54, WON Wentworth Park 29.71
“Unbeaten here in three tries and he really powered to the line when scoring here last week in 26.50. The time wasn't great but he is obviously capable of going a lot quicker, however with a wide runner underneath he is going to need a lot of things to go his way in the early stages. Great effort to qualify but he will face an uphill battle to win this.”
Odds to win the Cyril Rowe Gold Cup: $6.50 with William Hill
Box Three: Fancy Top
Red Fawn Bitch – 27.3kg – March 2012
Cosmic Chief x Armatree Elle
Trainer: Anthony Azzopardi
Career: 33:10-4-1
Prizemoney: $45,015
T/D: 1:0-1-0
T/D Best: 26.43
Career Highlights: WON 2015 Dubbo Gold Cup Final, WON Maitland 24.98, WON Grafton 27.39, WON Dapto 29.73, WON Wentworth Park 29.90, WON Richmond 30.93
“Was soundly beaten in her heat last week, but after Ride The Rails found the lead so early she was always going to find it hard to keep up. She does possess good early speed once she hits the ground and winning a race like this isn't beyond her. If you're looking for something which is way over the odds she is definitely worth an each way ticket.”
Odds to win the Cyril Rowe Gold Cup: $11 with William Hill
Box Four: Wuxi
Black Bitch – 26.2kg – November 2012
Fabregas x Florinda Belle
Trainer: Luke Azzopardi
Career: 21:5-4-4
Prizemoney: $12,495
T/D: 2:1-1-0
T/D Best: 26.33
Career Highlights: WON Wentworth Park, 29.68, WON Gosford 29.69
“Pinged the lids last week and once she found the top she was always going to prove hard to catch. If she can turn in a similar effort tonight she can definitely feature, however she isn't known for her brilliant box manners and she is likely to get spat out the back in the early stages.”
Odds to win the Cyril Rowe Gold Cup: $17 with William Hill
Box Five: Kayda Shae
Red Fawn Dog – 33.6kg – June 2013
Kilty Lad x Cosmic Aphrodite
Trainer: Kelly Bravo
Career: 10:7-1-0
Prizemoney: $23,540
T/D: 1:1-0-0
T/D Best: 26.23
Career Highlights: WON Ballarat 24.89, WON Warrnambool 24.99, WON Sandown 29.26
“Up and coming superstar and he looked ultra impressive when scoring here last week in 26.23. That was his first look at the track and with a clear passage in the early stages he could easily get down to the 26 flat mark. There isn't a whole lot of speed on his outside and he should be afforded all the breaks early on, he is my top pick and he should go onto bigger and better things after this.”
Odds to win the Cyril Rowe Gold Cup: $2.80 with William Hill
Box Six: Winsome Jacko
Brindle Dog – 36.0kg – April 2013
El Grand Senor x Ramblin' Ruby
Trainer: Melinda Finn
Career: 23:7-2-6
Prizemoney: $25,980
T/D: 5:2-1-2
T/D Best: 26.45
Career Highlights: WON Maitland 21.98 TR, WON Wentworth Park 29.61
“Loves racing over this track and trip and he was far from disgraced when placed here last week. He is likely to get back in the early stages but he should be able to hook out wide and once he hits top gear he is capable of reeling off explosive sectionals. He will probably get too far back to score but he should be able to run home and grab some minor money.”
Odds to win the Cyril Rowe Gold Cup: $11 with William Hill
Box Seven: Aston Wingard
Black Dog – 34.8kg – August 2012
El Galo x Aston Elite
Trainer: Troy Murray
Career: 25:11-8-2
Prizemoney: $16,870
T/D: 1:1-0-0
T/D Best: 26.47
Career Highlights: WON Gawler 22.35, WON Angle Park 22.55, 29.88
“Classy SA chaser and he surprised quite a few when he was able to lead from go to whoa here last week. The wide draw is definitely against him tonight and he can be prone to bombing the start, great effort to qualify but he is definitely going to struggle from out there.”
Odds to win the Cyril Rowe Gold Cup: $15 with William Hill
Box Eight: Waymore's Blues
Black Dog – 32.2kg – January 2012
Collide x Casey's Angel
Trainer: Kelly Bravo
Career: 63:19-12-10
Prizemoney: $100,385
T/D: 2:0-1-0
T/D Best: 26.41
Career Highlights: 3rd 2015 Group 2 Launceston Cup Final, WON 2014 Maitland Gold Cup Consolation, 3rd 2014 Group 1 National Derby Final (The Gardens), WON Bendigo 23.82, WON Sale 24.67, WON Shepparton 25.11, WON Ballarat 25.24, WON Maitland 25.28, WON Geelong 25.26, WON Launceston 29.55, WON The Meadows 30.20, 34.42
“Extremely strong chaser who is quite versatile. Last week he hit the line well when placed in his heat and he should be improved by the run. The wide draw is a big concern but if he can somehow work across and find the rail he should give himself a chance to figure in the finish. I don't think he can win but he is definitely a great place chance.”
Odds to win the Cyril Rowe Gold Cup: $15 with William Hill
Top Four: 5 – 6 – 8 – 1
Suggested Bets:
Win bet on Kayda Shae at $2.80 with William Hill
Quinella: 5 to rove with 1,6,8 ($3 for 100%)
Exacta: 5,6,8/1,5,6,8 ($9 for 100%)
Trifecta: 5/1,6,8/Field ($18 for 100%)