Tonight's Laurels Classic final has well and truly been overshadowed by the other big group race on tonight, the 2013 Sale Cup. However there will be more than a few breeders, owners and trainers will be hoping they can etch their greyhound's name in the history of this bitches only race, the richest race for age-restricted females in Victoria.
The Laurels was first conducted by the Sandown Club in 1964 when won by Tara Princess. The Classic has found some outstanding winners over the years none the least 1965 champ Cheltenham Lass who later in her career was runner up and won a Melbourne Cup as well as runner up in an Australian Cup. Odious who went on to win an Australian Cup in 1976, Carrington Jade won a Melbourne Cup in 1976. Cavalier Queen won the Adelaide Cup in 1977. Paua To Burn won the 2005 Easter Egg, and 2004 and 2005 Group 1 Sapphire Crown. Household names such as Winifred Bale and Sandi's Me Mum are also previous winners of the race.
This year's finalist have won their way through the heats and semi finals to make tonight's Group 2 $50,000 to the winner final field.
Comments: Jenny Hunt (Trainer) – “Trainer unavailable for comment. ARG opinion: Other with better chances but does have the prized draw. Not as string as some in the race, and not the quickest from the boxes. Would need plenty of luck and trouble to others to win, but could find a place.”
Comments: Karen Repia (Trainer) – “If she can hold her ground through the first corner under Ritza Hattie and Maximum Lil, then she's in with a great chance. She's not super quick from the boxes, but has great acceleration once she hits the ground; so just needs that little bit of room early. We're really happy with the draw.”
Comments: Mark Gatt (Trainer) – “I'm quietly confident going into the race. She will have to do everything right and there won't be room for errors. If she can cross the inside two, she's in it up to her ears.”
Comments: Joe Borg (Trainer) – “There are other bitches in the race that probably have her covered at this stage in her career. She needs a ton of luck and is one of the outsiders of the field. But it's a great effort to have made the final. We need her to ping to the front and the rest to find some trouble. It's a credit to her to have made the final.”
Comments: Tom Dailly (Co-Trainer) – “Trainer unavailable for comment. ARG opinion: Capable of leading this on best form but is not a consistent beginner. If able to bring her best box manners tonight, will go very close to leading all the way from this draw.”
Comments: Tammy Collins (Kennel Representative) – “She is a chance is she can find the rails. She is badly boxed out there , but will be hitting the line really hard”
Comments: Jenny Hunt (Trainer) – “Trainer unavailable for comment. ARG opinion: Slow beginner boxed inside does no harm and has a good record from the box. Would need a lot of luck to lead from out here but on best form wouldn't be far away in the run to the first corner. Don't dismiss.”