2015 Group 3 Ambrosoli tips & betting preview
NAMED after the best caller the sport of greyhound racing has seen, the Group 3 Ambrosoli is essentially the consolation race on Golden Easter Egg night for those greyhounds which just missed a berth in the $250,000-to-the-winner feature.
This year's event is packed full of quality, with the current favourite being Spacecraft at $2.45 fixed with William Hill. The NSW chaser has been in excellent form in his recent starts, running third behind Fernando Bale in a semi-final of the Golden Easter Egg last week. He will jump from box four on Saturday night.
Three other runners are under double figures, the next best being Lamia Bale (box two) at $4 for Steve Collins. The dual Group winner comes into the Ambrosoli after finishing fifth in the same race as Spacecraft last week.
Zipping Abby (box one) and Ritza Hattie (box six) are both on the next line of betting at $5 with William Hill, the latter being a track specialist and last year's winner with eight wins over this trip and a personal best time of 29.47.
The Group 3 Ambrosoli is race four on the card and will jump at 8:08pm AEDT. Lets check out the form of each runner, with expert comment from Australian Racing Greyhound‘s tipster, Brad Bugeja.
Box One: Zipping Abby
Fawn Bitch – 27.1kg – July 2012
Spring Gun x Agent Gibbs
Trainer: Ronald Seymour
Career: 19:7-6-3
T/D: 13:4-3-3
T/D Best: 29.66
Career Highlights: WON Wentworth Park 29.66, 29.74
“Very talented chaser which turned in a fantastic performance when placed here last week behind Recruitment. She has won here in a slick 29.66 previously and she can show great early dash in her races, the only concern is that she is desperate for the outside and she does not like to be crowded in her races. From the inside draw I can't see her being a major factor in this.”
Odds to win the Ambrosoli: $5 with William Hill
Box Two: Lamia Bale
Brindle Bitch – 27.7kg – July 2012
High Earner x Maple Bale
Trainer: Steve Collins
Career: 45:13-10-7
T/D: 2:0-0-1
T/D Best: 29.93
Career Highlights: WON 2014 Group 2 Laurels, 2014 Group 3 Sir John Dillion Memorial, 2ND Group 1 Rookie Rebel, 3RD 2014 Listed Australian Sprint, FINALIST 2014 Group 1 Maturity Classic, 2015 Group 1 Australian Cup
“Very honest type and she can show blistering early speed in her races. If this race was run three weeks ago she would probably be my top pick, however her past two runs have been a tad disappointing and I'm starting to think that maybe she doesn't like this circuit. She is a class act on her night though so I'm not willing to totally dismiss her. If she happens to ping and find the lead she is a different animal when on the lure.”
Odds to win the Ambrosoli: $4 with William Hill
Box Three: Frost Yourself
Black Bitch – 26.3kg – October 2012
El Grand Senor x Little Egyptian
Trainer: Jason Mackay
Career: 31:6-7-7
T/D: 14:2-5-3
T/D Best: 30.01
Career Highlights: WON Wentworth Park 30.07, 30.14, The Gardens 29.73
“Can ping away and has good early burn but that's where it ends for her. She really struggles to run a strong 520-metres and in this company she will struggle to keep up once they hit the half way mark.”
Odds to win the Ambrosoli: $21 with William Hill
Box Four: Spacecraft
Black Dog – 31.7kg – April 2013
Brett Lee x Cristalle
Trainer: Lorraine Actchison
Career: 25:11-6-2
T/D: 10:3-2-1
T/D Best: 29.68
Career Highlights: WON Wentworth Park 29.69, 29.73, Gosford 29.39, 29.66
“Has really come of age in recent weeks and was probably a tad unlucky not to make the Egg final. He has been pinging the lids and he has clocked a breathtaking 5.30 to the first marker here previously. It all comes down to what he can do at box rise, if he steps well he will have enough early burn to assume control and he can run some serious sectionals when on the lure. If he misses the kick he will get spat out the back and he won't be a factor. I'm tipping that he will step cleanly tonight and should put himself into contention for a top three finish.”
Odds to win the Ambrosoli: $2.45 with William Hill
Box Five: Sisco Rage
Black Dog – 30.1kg – February 2012
High Earner x Sisco Power
Trainer: John Galea
Career: 84:21-13-18
T/D: 3:0-1-2
T/D Best: 29.87
Career Highlights: 3RD 2015 Group 1 Rookie Rebel, FINALIST 2014 Group 1 Maturity Classic, 2015 Group 1 Australian Cup, 2015 Group 2 Warragul Cup, 2015 Group 2 Shepparton Cup
“Powerhouse chaser who once again has been dealt a bad box draw. In recent months he has been one of the hottest chasers in training and he has turned in some almighty performances. There is a fair bit of speed drawn around him tonight so he will need a few favours in the early stages, but he does have good muster and if he can step cleanly he might be able to drift across and find the rail. He has been placed in all three tries here and he should be in the mix for a pay cheque again tonight.”
Odds to win the Ambrosoli: $15 with William Hill
Box Six: Ritza Hattie
Black Bitch – 29.0kg – November 2011
Bombastic Shiraz x Midnight Flare
Trainer: Mark Gatt
Career: 49:19-14-9
T/D: 24:8-7-6
T/D Best: 29.47
Career Highlights: WON 2015 Group 2 Gosford Gold Cup, 2013 Group 2 Laurels, 2014 Group 3 Ambrosoli, 2013 Group 3 Nowra Puppy Classic, 2ND Group 1 Dapto Megastar, Group 3 Ladies Bracelet, Group 3 Laurie Healion, 3RD Group 2 Bob Payne, FINALIST 2014 Group 1 National Futurity
“Very hard chaser to follow but there is no doubting her talent when she is switched on. She can ping the lids in her races and with the lack of speed on her outside she will get her chance to settle in the first two or three at the first bend. She isn't overly strong but she has won at this level many times and if she happens to find the early lead she might just steal the prize at nice odds.”
Odds to win the Ambrosoli: $5 with William Hill
Box Seven: My Bro Fabio
SCRATCHED
Box Eight: Xtreme Knocka
White and Blue Brindle Dog – 33.5kg – September 2012
Knocka Norris x Misty Fields
Trainer: Jason Thompson
Career: 42:15-11-3
T/D: 10:3-2-1
T/D Best: 29.56
Career Highlights: FINALIST 2014 Group 1 Vic Peters Classic, 2015 Group 1 Perth Cup
“Has a good record here and can run good sectionals when given a clear run, however he tends to race best when he can find the rail in the early stages. There is quite an even spread of early speed in this event so from the pink he may find it very difficult to get across. He clearly has the talent to win a race like this but will struggle to get across in the early stages.”
Odds to win the Ambrosoli: $12 with William Hill
1st Reserve: My Boy Snoop
White and Black Dog – 35.2kg – February 2012
Where's Pedro x Daydream
Trainer: Anthony Azzopardi
Career: 36:10-7-5
T/D: 20:4-5-2
T/D Best: 29.73
Career Highlights: WON 2014 Group 3 Bulli Gold Cup, Gosford 29.27, Richmond 30.60
“Very inconsistent chaser but is capable of just about anything on his night. He bombed the start in his Egg Semi Final and was never a factor. He is capable of scoring but he will need a lot of things to go right in running.”
Odds to win the Ambrosoli: $9 with William Hill
2nd Reserve: Winsome Senor
Blue Dog – 35.1kg – February 2012
El Grand Senor x Winsome Shiraz
Trainer: Melinda Finn
Career: 35:9-2-9
T/D: 4:0-1-1
T/D Best: 29.91
Career Highlights: WON Bulli 26.22, Cannington 30.69, Mandurah 27.67
“Turned in a huge effort here in his heat and then followed up with a solid effort in his semi-final. This race looks a little beyond him and unlikely to make an impact if he starts.”
Odds to win the Ambrosoli: $23 with William Hill
Top Four: 5 – 4 – 2 – 6
Suggested Bets:
Win bet on Sisco Rage at $15 with William Hill
Quinella: 5 to rove with 2,4,6 ($3 for 100%)
Exacta: 2,4,5/2,4,5,6 ($9 for 100%)
Trifecta: 2,4,5/2,4,5,6/2,4,5,6,8,9 ($36 for 100%)