Winter Carnival Cup Final A Thrilling Close To Carnival

Written By Kevin Pitstock, Editor & Australian Greyhound Racing Expert Contributor On Friday 17th July 2009  

The curtain closer of the 2009 Sky Channel Winter Chasing Carnival will see a thrilling spectacle of top class Greyhound Racing talent after an electric night of heats for the Garrards Winter Carnival Cup at Albion Park last night.

The Group One Winter Carnival Cup will be contested by the top national stars of racing, including last week’s Group Two Gold Coast Cup winner Velocette, and Group Two Queensland Derby winner High Earner, qualifying for the $74,000 final.

The heats produced two fastest qualifiers of the night including southern sprinter Turanza Bale who bolted to an early lead to run in a very smart 30.02 ahead of High Earner.

High Earner seemed to struggle with the surrounding talent from box four, unable to hold off Turanza Bale but upholding his Albion Park record of placing in the top three in every start.

It will be a tough ask for High Earner to back up in another difficult box, drawing box five in the final while Turanza Bale drew a favourable box three.

Velocette was the other fastest qualifier of the night, showing he’s all class in his heat ahead of Jason Thompson’s Hanify’s Impact.

The Graeme Bate-trained star looked as though he had improved on his Cup win last week flying out of the boxes with a blistering 5.74 first sectional from box seven. He has drawn box six in the final.

Another southern-trained performer who has shown vast improvement was the Paul Felgate-owned Matching Outcome, who lead very convincingly ahead of Sydney greyhound Cindeen Shelby, winning by two lengths.

Matching Outcome seemed to overcome any past criticism of box speed, running the fastest first sectional of the night of 5.64 from box five.

In an upset for locals, Melbourne-based Trew Millions beat Brisbane champion Queen Lauryn, who placed third, taking the heat win in a time of 30.05 and has drawn box seven in the final.

The last heat winner was local underdog Paddy Bell, who showed track experience from box one, running in a solid 30.18 at 12-1 odds.

Three fastest second placings of the heats also progressed through to the final, in High Earner (30.06), Cindeen Shelby (30.21), and Dyna Forte (30.22).

Cindden Shelby has been trialling for the past week in Brisbane, which showed last night, and is expected to improve with this recent track experience.

Graeme Bate’s Dyna Forte showed promise to place second behind Trew Millions, beating Group One winner Queen Lauryn home in the placings. Dyna Forte will be suited from box eight, and should improve in what will be only his second start at Albion Park.

Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club general manager Luke Gatehouse said it was a great final for the last night of a successful Carnival, and the box draw had evened up the field.

“It is surely going to be an interesting race now with the way the box draw panned out,”

“When I saw the heat fields I was gob-smacked at the quality of greyhounds that were nominated, and this has made the final truly elite.”

An increased interest in Greyhound Racing has been recorded by the Brisbane Club during the Winter Carnival, with TOTE turnover revenue up 30 per cent on recent carnivals. Ticket sales have also surged by 11 per cent.

Mr Gatehouse said the Winter Carnival has developed into one of the best Greyhound Racing carnivals in Australia and expected further growth in the future.

“We have had a tremendous Winter Carnival with increased attendance and interest from all ages, but particularly the 18-35 demographic,” he said.

“The Winter Carnival has progressed to become one of the nation’s key events, and by the interest it has generated, is quickly becoming a great attraction on the Brisbane sporting calendar.”

To celebrate the 2009 Winter Chasing Carnival and the Garrards Winter Carnival Cup, the Brisbane Club will be throwing a free party for all ages including music, roving entertainers, jumping castle and the Club will also be giving away a $500 bet to one lucky punter on the big race.

For further information visit www.brisgreys.com or phone (07) 3862 1744. Gates open 6pm, and admission and parking is free.

2009 Group 1 Garrards Winter Carnival Cup Final Box Draw($74,000)

• 1. Cindeen Shelby
• 2. Matching Outcome
• 3. Turanza Bale
• 4. Paddy Bell
• 5. High Earner
• 6. Velocette
• 7. Trew Millions
• 8. Dyna Forte

RESERVES

• 9. Hanify’s Impact
• 10. Azastar

For all media enquiries contact Anthony Millican on 0402 805 188 or email anthony@brisgreys.com

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Albion Park, Anthony Millican, BGRC, Cindeen Shelby, Dyna Forte, Gold Coast Cup, Graeme Bate, High Earner, Jason Thompson, Luke Gatehouse, Matching Outcome, Paddy Bell, Paul Felgate, Queen Lauryn, Queensland Derby, Sky Channel, Trew Millions, Turanza Bale, Velocette, Winter Carnival Cup

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