2014 Group 2 Horsham Cup Preview

The strength of the Victorian Country Cups circuit goes on display again this Saturday night when the final of the Group Two 2014 Horsham Cup takes place.

Four quality heats were held last Tuesday over the demanding 480 metre trip, with some of the state's most consistent performers advancing to Saturday night's final.

Unfortunately last year's winner Peter Rocket has had to withdraw from the final due to injury, but his place will be taken by Group One Silver Chief winner Ollie Bale. The eight finalists have won no less than 113 races between them, so they certainly know what is required when it comes to chasing.

Youngster Warrior King was the fastest qualifier of the four heats, stopping the clock at 26.75. That time is just 0.07 outside the long-standing track record set by Crash back in 2004.

ARG spoke to of every greyhound involved to get an insight into how they believe their charges will fare in the $43,750 to-the-winner event.

The race takes place at 6:39pm.

Let's take a look at the race in detail;

Box 1
Race Odds
$12.00
Heat Replay
Hawk Alone
Trainer
Andrea Daily
Owner
Mark Rodgers
Prizemoney
$233,530.00
Last 10 Starts
64773417F2
31 Months Black Dog by Westmead Hawk Glamorous Jade
Start Moderate Running Middle Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $5,077.00 Rating 95
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
46 15 10 7
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
33% 70%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 0 1 0
Box 1 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
6 2 3 0
Comments: Tom Dailly (Co-Trainer) – “It was a tough run in the heat after his triple somersault Saturday night. He has drawn nicely and will hopefully get a clear run. We know he will be strong to the line. Crump will be hard to beat getting a clear run from the eight.”

Best Horsham Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
NBT 27.29 6.45 6.45
Box 2
Race Odds
$9.00
Heat Replay
Musquin Bale
Trainer
Andrea Dailly
Owner
Paul Wheeler
Prizemoney
$59,100.00
Last 10 Starts
8277511152
35 Months Red Fawn Dog by Dyna Lachlan
Start Good Running Middle Finish Good
Prizemoney Rating $1,847.00 Rating 97
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
32 10 6 2
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
31% 56%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 1 1 0
Box 2 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
3 1 1 0
Comments: Tom Dailly (Co-Trainer) – “He gets out good but lacks early pace. He is similar to Hawk Alone and will need a clear run.”

Best Horsham Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
27.17 26.93 6.35 6.42
Box 3
Race Odds
$3.00
Heat Replay
Warrior King
Trainer
Owner
Mr T S Wales Syndicate
Prizemoney
$29,375.00
Last 10 Starts
1242111311
24 Months Red Brindle Dog by Turanza Bale Flamenco
Start Moderate Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $1,469.00 Rating 98
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
20 8 4 5
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
40% 85%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 2 0 0
Box 3 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 0 0 2
Comments: Jamie Ennis (Co-Trainer) – “Box three looks okay, the only concern is Musquin Bale, who drew directly outside us last week and he did come out but probably stays straight. If anything, he uses the track a little bit and gave us a chance to drive through. If I have a concern this week, that would be it.”

Best Horsham Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
26.76 26.76 6.44 6.41
Box 4
 Race Odds
$10.00
Heat Replay
Evie's Entity
Trainer
Lyn Smith
Owner
Yolo Syndicate
Prizemoney
$84,180.00
Last 10 Starts
5121126262
39 Months Black Bitch by Girl Aloud
Start Moderate Running Middle Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $1,871.00 Rating 95
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
45 19 11 1
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
42% 69%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
4 2 2 0
Box 4 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
9 4 5 0
Comments: Lyn Smith (Trainer) – “She hasn't had a lot of luck with the box draws, but what can you do. She's pulled up great and is jumping out of her skin. I couldn't be happier with her at the moment. She has got to do everything right, she's only really running for luck. You are basically there, hoping that somebody else makes a mistake. She's not blessed with any early pace, she's basically in the hands of what the other dogs around her do. She loves the track, she hasn't been out of the money on the track and she hasn't been out of the money out of box four either.”

Best Horsham Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
26.94 26.96 6.43 6.59
Box 5
Race Odds
$4.80
Heat Replay
Innocent Til
Trainer
Owner
Family Frenzy Syndicate
Prizemoney
$124,445.00
Last 10 Starts
1176118181
31 Months Black Dog by
Start Fair Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $2,894.00 Rating 99
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
43 25 6 3
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
58% 79%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 1 0 0
Box 5 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
5 4 0 1
Comments: Jason Thompson (Trainer) – “He is in another final. He's obviously going well, it was a very good heat run but he just can't draw a box in all of these finals he gets in. This dog has never had any luck in his whole career. He's had 43 starts and drawn the red twice and he's a desperate railer. If you watch his heat win, he railed his ears off turning for home and that's all he wants to do. It's very disappointing to continually get bad boxes with, what I think, is a pretty good dog. He had to show a fair bit of tenacity. I know Warrior King went two lengths quicker then him but I think his run was every bit as good as his given the circumstances. I think he is as good as anything in the final and if he can somehow find the front, he will be very hard to beat, but from box five it's going to be hard again.” 
Best Horsham Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
26.89 26.89 6.50 6.50
Box 6
Race Odds
$SCR
Heat Replay
Peter Rocket – SCRATCHED
Trainer
N/A
Owner
N/A
Prizemoney
N/A
Last 10 Starts
N/A
N/A N/A N/A by N/A N/A
Start N/A Running N/A Finish N/A
Prizemoney Rating N/A Rating N/A
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
N/A N/A
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Box 6 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Comments: Scratched
Best Horsham Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Box 7
Race Odds
$26.00
Heat Replay
Empire Allen
Trainer
Andrea Dailly
Owner
Janice Wheeler
Prizemoney
$50,495.00
Last 10 Starts
4473271332
30 Months Black Dog by Fear Zafonic Dyna Celeste
Start Excellent Running Rail Finish Fair
Prizemoney Rating $1,365.00 Rating 95
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
37 9 7 12
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
24% 76%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 0 1 0
Box 7 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 1 0 1
Comments: Tom Dailly (Co-Trainer) – “He is a good honest chaser that tries 100%. He has good early pace and will need to clear out early to be a winning chance.”
 
Best Horsham Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
NBT 27.09 6.37 6.37
Box 8
Race Odds
$3.00
Heat Replay
Crump
Trainer
Owner
Off The Leash Syndicate
Prizemoney
$81,300.00
Last 10 Starts
5211412441
34 Months Black Dog by Superman Mon Cherie
Start Moderate Running Wide Finish Good
Prizemoney Rating $1.848.00 Rating 100
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
44 20 6 3
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
46% 66%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 1 1 0
Box 8 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
10 3 1 2
Comments: Troy Iwanyk (Trainer) – “He injured himself in Perth. It was an injury enforced break and we fixed a few things up with him and got on top of a few injuries and I think he's come back from the break a lot better but he was probably still underdone going into that race, so I am hoping that he can find a bit more on Saturday. He's pulled up terrific, he has absolutely pulled up a treat. That was his main concern, he's come up good, I've just got to hope he comes out of the boxes a bit better on Saturday night. Box eight looks to be ideal for him but you never know how these races are going to pan out. He had box eight in the Warragul Cup and that ended up being the undoing of him, he just got interfered with as the dogs in front of him collided. It can always work against you but it does give him his chance to stay off the track and do his own thing.”

Best Horsham Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
26.90 26.90 6.54 6.59
1st Res
Race Odds
$12.00
Heart Replay
Ollie Bale (Box 6)
Trainer
Andrea Dailly
Owner
Paul Wheeler
Prizemoney
$136,895.00
Last 10 Starts
1184423673
29 Months Black Dog by Go Wild Teddy
Start Fair Running Wide Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $4,278.00 Rating 93
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
32 7 6 5
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
22% 56%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 0 0 1
Box Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Comments: Group One Silver Chief winner with a big motor who will need some luck from the draw but could be running on.
Best Horsham Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
NBT 27.12 6.42 6.42
2nd Res
Race Odds
$16.00
Heat Replay
Sisco Rage
Trainer
John Galea
Owner
John Galea
Prizemoney
$22,020.00
Last 10 Starts
1568115113
25 Months Black Dog by Sisco Power
Start Fair Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $816.00 Rating 93
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
27 8 1  5
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
30% 52%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1  0  0  1
Box Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Comments: Looks tested against these dogs and will need luck if gaining a start. Place chance looks best.

Best Horsham Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
NBT 27.13 6.42 6.42

 

The race is not flushed with early speed. Musquin Bale (2) or Empire Allen (7) could well find themselves in the early lead. Hawk Alone (1), Warrior King (3), Innocent Til (5) and Ollie Bale (9) will be four dogs that look to muster up early and vie for a good position. The key for them is avoiding interference in the run to the turn.

Evie's Entity (4) is the only bitch in the race and has a real penchant for the track. She is another who will need room early in the hope that she can secure a clear run to get a crack at them in the home straight.

Crump (8) looks perfectly boxed out wide and could well get a clear run around the field to unleash his customary withering burst to the line in the long Horsham straight.

A case can be made for almost every runner in the race with the box draw appearing to suit Crump and Hawk Alone. Luck in the running will be everything with the winner certain to be the dog who makes the most of the opportunities they are afforded. This final promises to be an absolute cracker.

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