2015 Group 1 Australian Cup tips & betting preview

THE 2015 Group 1 will be run and won at on Saturday night offering a whopping $250,000 to winning connections. The series attracted some of the best greyhounds in the country, but there were plenty of upsets in last weekend's heats with many greyhounds flying under the to qualify for the decider.

We are left with a very open race with the current $3.80 favourite with William Hill being Paul Stuart's Quartz Bale (box three) The light fawn heavyweight tips the scales at nearly 38 kilograms but is all class as he showed last week in his 29.60 heat win.

Quartz Bale is one of three Wheeler-bred greyhounds in the final with the leviathan owner/breeder also represented in the feature by Samus Allen (box seven) and the ultra-consistent Lamia Bale (box eight).

While many Group 1 races are dominated by leading trainers, this year's Australian Cup will see some of the sports smaller participants looking for glory at the elite level. Sisco Rage (box one), Hostile (box two), Luca Neveelk (box four), Emrys (box five) and Recruitment (box six) all come from lesser-known kennels but are all in with a realistic chance of claiming top honours.

The Group 1 Australian Cup final is race eight at The Meadows on Saturday night and will jump at 9:35pm.

Box 1
Race Odds
$6.00
Sisco Rage
Trainer
John Galea
Owner
John Galea
Prizemoney
$147,165
Last 10 Starts
1128227331
February
2012
Black Dog by High
Earner
Sisco
Power
Start Average Running Railer Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $1,863 Rating 80
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
79 21 13 15
Rates
Win % Place %
27 62
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
11 3 3 1
Box 1 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
10 3 2 3
ARG's Brad Bugeja: “He has probably been one of the hottest chasers in the state for the past two or three months but he unfortunately doesn't have many wins to show for it. His efforts in the heat's of the Warragul and Cups were enormous and he capped off a great stretch of form with a win here last week. He surprises a few when he led last week but he has always shown great speed, it's his box manners which are the problem. The red draw is a big plus tonight and if he can push through at the first turn he will prove very hard to hold out.”
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.89 29.89 5.09 5.09
Box 2
Race Odds
$4.80
Hostile
Trainer
Darren Beasley
Owner
Chatterwal Syndicate
Prizemoney
$82,650
Last 10 Starts
2212112411
April
2012
Black Dog by Restless
Style
Start Average Running Railer Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $2,505 Rating 80
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
33 12 10 1
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
36 70
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
5 2 1 0
Box 2 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
5 2 2 0
ARG's Brad Bugeja: “Has always had tremendous ability but he can find trouble in his races, last week he did well to win when coming from off the speed and he is probably better suited drawn closer to the inside tonight. He is capable of matching it with any of these chasers one out but his box manners do worry me and I'm a little worried he may get squeezed out in the run to the first bend.”
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.94 29.95 5.12 5.12
Box 3
Race Odds
$3.80
Quartz Bale
Trainer
Paul Stuart
Owner
Prizemoney
$69,820
Last 10 Starts
8213413541
October
2012
Light
Fawn
Dog by Yahoo
Omar
Zambola
Bale
Start Risky Running Middle Finish Very
Strong
Prizemoney Rating $3,789 Rating 95
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
18 11 1 2
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
61 78
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 1 0 0
Box 3 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
3 3 0 0
ARG's Brad Bugeja: “Gun WA speedster and I couldn't believe he went round at $13 last week. He is a little hit or miss early but when he steps he is capable of great things. Last week's time of 29.60 was super impressive and a repeat performance tonight will probably see him win. I would have preferred him drawn on the outside of Luca Neveelk as that would have given him a cart into the race but being drawn underneath means that he might get crowded. He is a great winning chance but he just needs an ounce of luck in the first 50m.”
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.60 29.60 5.05 5.05
Box 4
Race Odds
$4.80
Luca Neveelk
Trainer
Gerald Kleeven
Owner
Paul Kleeven
Prizemoney
$240,365
Last 10 Starts
3181121221
 
May
2012
Blue Dog by Talk's
Cheap
It's
A
Neveelk
Start Fast Running Rail Finish Solid
Prizemoney Rating $6,878 Rating 100
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
35 26 3 3
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
74 89
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
4 2 0 1
Box 4 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
5 3 1 0
ARG's Brad Bugeja: “All class and is the most reliable beginner in the final. Last week he flew the lids and reeled off the best second sectional of any finalist before scoring in 29.98 and that was after the rain had fallen. It was probably a 29.80ish run overall on a good track and with that being his first 500m try for over two months he is likely to show great improvement tonight. He should have no trouble finding the early lead tonight and if he can build up a three length lead off the back straight, it might be enough for him to hold on. Early speed wins big races and he is my tip for the event.”
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.98 29.98 5.00 5.00
Box 5
Race Odds
$16

Emrys

Trainer
Owner
The Rat Pack Syndicate
Prizemoney
$43,145
Last 10 Starts
2512584111
January
2013
Black Dog by Magic
Sprite
Prancing
Uno
Start Slow Running Middle Finish Very
Strong
Prizemoney Rating $1,961 Rating 80
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
22 8 6 0
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
36 64
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
11 3 5 0
Box 5 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
3 1 0 0
ARG's Brad Bugeja: “Extremely strong chaser and he is going to be a great stayer in the near future, he turned in a terrific performance to score in his heat and he is worthy of his spot in the final, however he meets a brilliant lineup here and he is likely to be giving some gun chasers too much of a head start. Can maybe sneak into third spot but I'd prefer to wait and see him in feature staying events in the future.”
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
30.06 30.06 5.14 5.14
Box 6
Race Odds
$23
Heat Replay
Recruitment
Trainer
Deborah Coleman
Owner
Shaun Evans
Prizemoney
$38,110
Last 10 Starts
1661232811
February
2012
Black Dog by Cosmic
Rumble
Josette
Bale
Start Risky Running Middle Finish Fairly
Strong
Prizemoney Rating $1,588 Rating 75
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
24 9 4 2
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
38 63
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
4 2 1 0
Box 6 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
4 2 0 0
ARG's Brad Bugeja: “The penny has finally dropped with this chaser and he is finally putting it altogether. In recent weeks he has scored two commanding and impressive victories over this journey and if he had drawn inside I would have considered him a great chance. He has shown in his career to date that he races better from inside draws and with the speed underneath I can't see him getting across into a prominent position as they head for the back straight. Great job to make the final but I dont think he will be a factor.”
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.84 29.91 5.09 5.09
Box 7
Race Odds
$11
Samus Allen
Trainer
Jenny Hunt
Owner
Janice Wheeler
Prizemoney
$53,685
Last 10 Starts
3362225111
May
2012
Black Bitch by Bekim
Bale
Blachura
Bale
Start Fast Running Rail Finish Fairly
Strong
Prizemoney Rating $1,451 Rating 90
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
37 15 8 4
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
41 73
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
10 7 1 0
Box 7 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
6 2 1 1
ARG's Brad Bugeja: “Racing in dazzling form and at present she is really pinging the lids. She has won seven of ten over this trip previously and if the pink stays out of her way early she will be right in the mix. Last week's sectional of 5.03 would see her sitting outside of Luca Neveelk at the first bend and she will then be able to apply the pressure mid race. I think she might struggle to reel him in but if she happened to cross him she will be off and gone with the prize.”
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.84- 29.84- 5.03 5.03-
Box 8
Race Odds
$4.00
Lamia Bale
Trainer
Steve Collins
Owner
Paul Wheeler
Prizemoney
$179,295
Last 10 Starts
1212313321
July
2012
Brindle Bitch by High
Earner
Maple
Bale
Start Fast Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $4,170 Rating 80
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
43 13 10 6
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
31 67
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
9 3 3 0
Box 8 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
3 0 0 2
ARG's Brad Bugeja: “Was absolutely airborne in the first 100m here last week and once she led she was never going to be reeled in. She has produced fast sectionals in her career previously but I think last week's effort was a once off. From the pink draw she is going to have trouble getting across and I dont think she can win tonight. With some breaks mid race she might be able to sneak into a place but I can't see her taking home the major prize.”
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.78 29.78 4.99 4.99

Top Four: 4 – 1 – 7 – 3

Suggested Bets:

Win bet on Luca Neveelk with William Hill

Boxed Quinella: 1,3,4,7 ($6 for 100%)

Exacta: 1,4/1,3,4,7 ($6 for 100%)

Trifecta: 4/1,3,7/Field ($18 for 100%)

William Hill are giving all new customers up to $700 in bets to place on the 2015 Australian Cup upon sign-up

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