2015 SA Distance Championship tips & betting preview
SINCE its inception in 1969, just four greyhounds from the festival state have tasted victory in the National Distance Championship, the most recent being Bothing back in 2006.
Tonight, eight chasers will line up in the SA Distance Championship at Angle Park, with the winner progressing through to the National Final at Wentworth Park on August 22.
The current favourite for the feature is Grifter Bale, $2.70 with William Hill, which will jump from box seven.
The fawn son of Batrim Bale and Mirella Bale commands attention and is the in-form runner of the race being a winner of six of his last eight starts. Trained by Ben Rawlings, Grifter Bale is a winner of nine from 13 over the track and trip with a nippy personal best of 43.04 over the 731-metre journey.
Luna Jinx, the Group 1 Superstayers winner, is the second favourite ($3.60 with William Hill) and has been racing well without winning of late and will be aiming to improve on her heat run, where she placed third behind Psychotic Gold ($4.00). The daughter of Velocette and Hannah's Jinx is one of two runners for Gavin Harris who also has Springvale Clint engaged from box five.
The SA Distance Championship is race six on the card and is set to jump at 8:58pm AEST.
Lets check out the stats of each runner, with comments and tips from our resident form analyst, Brad Bugeja.
Box One – Allen Warlock
Black Dog – 33.8kg – April 2012
Allen Harper x Cara Bale
Prize money: $12,915
Trainer: Tony Rasmussen
Career: 58: 6-8-11
T/D: 4: 0-1-0
T/D Best: 43.97
“Hasn't won for quite a while and just doesn't appear to run the trip right out. Last week he settled mid field and he never really made any progress when soundly beaten by Psychotic Gold. The red draw is always an advantage but this looks well beyond him and I can't see him making an impact.”
Odds to win the SA Distance Championship: $61 with William Hill
Box Two – Psychotic Gold
Black Bitch – 27.4kg – December 2011
Vapour Whirl x Molly's Gold
Prize money: $65,645
Trainer: Petar Jovanovic
Career: 41: 16-7-5
T/D: 31: 16-7-3
T/D Best: 43.11
“Star stayer who has recorded all 16 of her career wins over this track and trip. Last week she was resuming from a short spell and she looked ultra impressive when posting a commanding 43.34 heat win. She should have derived a lot of benefit from that run and I'm expecting her to be able to go up another notch tonight. There is quite a bit of speed drawn in the middle and out wide but all of those runners tend to use a fair bit of the track and that should allow her to get a clear run throughout. All class and is a serious contender in this.”
Odds to win the SA Distance Championship: $4.00 with William Hill
Box Three – Placid Planet
Black Dog – 32.7kg – January 2012
Cosmic Rumble x Bogie Angel
Prize money: $43,100
Trainer: Ben Rawlings
Career: 40: 17-9-3
T/D: 3: 2-1-0
T/D Best: 43.35
“Has been absolutely flying since coming to SA and he should give a great sight again tonight. He has won two of his three attempts over this journey. However, last week he appeared to get found out over the concluding stages. I'm expecting him to lead again tonight but there appears to be quite a bit of depth in this event and I think they will get too him again. He should be able to hold on for a place but I don't think he can win the event.”
Odds to win the SA Distance Championship: $4.20 with William Hill
Box Four – Luna Jinx
Blue Bitch – 26.3kg – May 2012
Velocette x Hannah's Jinx
Prize money: $157,250
Trainer: Gavin Harris
Career: 43: 16-8-4
T/D: 20: 10-5-3
T/D Best: 42.77
“Easily the most talented chaser in the event, but also the hardest to follow and can prove to be very costly at times. Last week she found some trouble in running, but she still appeared to be a little disappointing and she will definitely need to improve on that effort. She does own a breathtaking 42.77 PB over this trip and she has produced in big events in the past. She is my second pick and with some luck in running she should be there at the end.”
Odds to win the SA Distance Championship: $3.60 with William Hill
Box Five – Springvale Clint
Black Dog – 31.6kg – November 2012
Cosmic Rumble x Little Looper
Prize money: $13,580
Trainer: Gavin Harris
Career: 27: 6-6-6
T/D: 14: 3-3-6
T/D Best: 43.39
“Honest stayer and he has turned in some great performances here in recent months. The box draw hasn't done him any favours tonight and this is clearly the strongest race he has contested in his brief staying career. With a clear run he can finish in the finish but from the awkward draw I'm expecting him to get squeezed out in the early stages.”
Odds to win the SA Distance Championship: $14 with William Hill
Box Six – Here Comes Henry
Black Dog – 30.1kg – February 2013
Token Prince x Boganesque
Prize money: $11,100
Trainer: Paula Hearden
Career: 41: 7-6-9
T/D: 2: 0-1-0
T/D Best: 43.87
“Only had the two runs over this trip and has been soundly beaten in those runs. Well drawn out wide but will get burnt off early and can't afford to give chasers of this calibre too big of a head start.”
Odds to win the SA Distance Championship: $51 with William Hill
Box Seven – Grifter Bale
Fawn Dog – 34.7kg – January 2012
Batrim Bale x Mirella Bale
Prize money: $64,890
Trainer: Ben Rawlings
Career: 72: 22-12-8
T/D: 13: 9-3-1
T/D Best: 43.04
“Class act and he has a terrific record at this track over the middle and staying trips and he looks ideally placed in the wide draw. Last week he was brilliant to begin and once he found the top he was never in doubt, the small concern this week is that he is going to cop plenty of pressure from Placid Planet in the early stages and he may get pushed even wider through the corner. Great chance to win, but he will definitely need to clear the three in the initial stages.”
Odds to win the SA Distance Championship: $2.70 with William Hill
Box Eight – Zipping Bart
Black Dog – 30.0kg – May 2012
Turanza Bale x Natalie Rass
Prize money: $30,275
Trainer: Jarrad Murray
Career: 54: 10-9-13
T/D: 9: 4-2-1
T/D Best: 43.22
“Talented stayer who can produce great performances when out in front and dictating the terms. Last week he was headed early and he was never really able to recover, tonight from the wide draw I think he is going to experience some difficulties in the early stages again and he is likely to find the going tough.”
Odds to win the SA Distance Championship: $11 with William Hill
Top Four: 2 – 4 – 7 – 3
Suggested Bets:
Win bet on Psychotic Gold
Quinella: 2 to rove with 3,4,7 ($3 for 100%)
Exacta: 2,4,7/2,3,4,7 ($9 for 100%)
Trifecta: 2,4,7/2,3,4,7/2,3,4,5,7 ($27 for 100%)