3 Vying For Tri Star Honours
The service, valued at $3,300, has been kindly donated by the Cairns family, and will be awarded to the greyhound judged most consistent across the six week MTD Tri-Star series based on a points system.
Following the Bendigo and Ballarat legs of the MTD Tri-Star and last week's Geelong heats, Pearcedale-based greyhound Invisiting Me (Steve Shinners) leads the table on 33 points.
However, Invisiting Me failed to qualify for the Geelong Final, and can be overtaken by two greyhounds that have qualified – the Bunyip-based Hot Puzzle (Paul Anderton) and Anakie greyhound Young Ravello (Jeff Britton), who are both on 28 points.
Points are awarded based on finishing positions, with a maximum of eight points awarded for a win, seven for running 2nd, six for 3rd etc.
Therefore, the highest placed greyhound out of Hot Puzzle and Young Ravello in Friday night's final will claim the service, providing they finish 3rd or better (if the highest placed of the pair runs fourth, Invisiting Me will win on a count back).
“I'm good mates with Steve (Shinners), while Paul Anderton and Jeff Britton have both had greyhounds mated to Bombastic Shiraz before, so it will be fitting whoever wins the service”, said Darren Cairns, who owns and trained multiple group winner Bombastic Shiraz, one of the best greyhounds to race in the past decade.
Meanwhile, Darren's father David is currently fighting for his life in the Ballarat Base Hospital after suffering a case of cellulitis, a skin condition that has spread into other sections of his body.
Incidentally, brilliant Camperdown greyhound Birthday Boy (Steve Elsum) has been instilled a $3.00 pre-post favourite for Friday night's Young Star Classic Final, with Young Ravello and Hot Puzzle rated at $5.00 and $12.00 respectively.
Total prize money for Friday's MTD Young Star Classic Final, set for 9.28pm, is $10,800 including a first prize of $7,000.
Tri Star Classic Points Table
- 33 INVISITING ME
- 32 DANCING LIGHTS
- 28 HOT PUZZLE
- 28 YOUNG RAVELLO
- 24 ALLEGRO JAY JAY
- 21 BIRTHDAY BOY