Vintage Octane Gets His Box And Galaxy Favouritism
Upsets and form reversals abounded last Saturday night in the heats of Australia's second richest staying event on the calendar, the Group 1 Sky Channel Galaxy, but a good box draw has seen Vinatge Octane a short favourite to win the final.
Won last year by super stayer and 2008 WA Greyhound Of The Year Elektra, in a fabulous last to first effort (you can re-live that sensational run here – 2008 Galaxy Final); and featuring in that final last year also is one of this year's finalist's Tayza.
Tayza (Stately Bird-Crazy Habit) led throughout to win the first heat of the Sky Channel Galaxy defeating Octanol by 1 ½ lengths in 41.78.
For the second year running the Pete Sayer trained bitch has made the final of the Galaxy, finishing unplaced behind Elektra in last years feature.
The little brindle bitch is raced by Port Bouvard resident Greg Dwyer who has enjoyed seeing his bitch represent WA in the National Distance final last year as WA‟s best stayer.
The second heat of the Galaxy was won by an all the way victory to the Victorian Darren McDonald trained Vintage Octane (Pure Octane- My Girl Georgina) who won by 5 lengths in 41.82.
The favourite in the third heat of the Galaxy Gunnadoo Magic also missed out on qualifying for trainer Robert Britton with his sisters runner Western Land (Big Daddy Cool-On This Fold) getting over the top of the leader Tawqeet Delta to win by 1 length in 41.98.
Trained by Linda Britton he has now won 4 times from 6 starts in WA with a personal best of 41.76 to his name after clocking 41.98 on Saturday.
Big Loose Buddy (Trendy Leigh-Abbadale Gold) gave Brookton trainer John Vuletich his biggest thrill as a trainer when he rattled home over the top of the tiring Victorian Sirocco Hero to win by 4 lengths in a time of 41.94.
This Saturday nights final has a winners purse of $80,000 and is the second richest staying event in Australia. The box draw and form for the 2009 Sky Channel Galaxy are below.
The Galaxy first became a group race in 2002 as the major distance support race to the Perth Cup Carnival prior to then it was conducted as a minor feature and was first run in 1982.
-
Galaxy Honour Roll
- 1982 Afro Freeway
- 1983 Supreme Carmen
- 1984 Aulfee
- 1985 Lady Temlock
- 1986 Abilene
- 1987 Lassie's Girl
- 1988 Red Rambo
- 1989 Ghetto's Glider
- 1990 Busy City
- 1991 Galahad County
- 1992 Petite Emma
- 1993 Cousin Johnny
- 1994 Floral Kwondo
- 1995 Wits End
- 1996 Rocket Racer
- 1997 Gemarly Park
- 1998 Paradise Street
- 1999 Harvard Bale
- 2000 Alencia Bale
- 2001 “Not held”
- 2002 Jennev
- 2003 Why Complain
- 2004 Winter
- 2005 Best Quoted
- 2006 Ronray Dancer
- 2007 Flashing Floods
- 2008 Elektra
2009 Group 1 Sky Channel Galaxy Final
Vintage Octane
Vintage Octane- Breeding : Pure Octane ~ My Girl Georgina
- Whelped : October 2006
- Sex : Fawn
- Colour : Black
- Owner/s : Living The Dream Syndicate
- Trainer : Darren McDonald
- Race Record : 30 Starts – 17 wins – 2 seconds – 6 thirds
- Prizemoney : $115,250
- Cannington 530m Record : 2 Starts – 1 wins – 1 seconds – 0 thirds
- Best Time : 41.82
- Pre Post Odds : $1.40
Comment : Victorian stayer that has already won a Group 2 this year will start favorite and was impressive last week apart from the fact the time wasn't there. Is sure to improve and is the one to beat has loads of ability and his best stayer efforts are surely in front of him.
Western Land
Western Land- Breeding : Big Daddy Cool ~ On This Fold
- Whelped : September 2005
- Sex : Dog
- Colour :
- Owner/s : D Carl, M Greenwood
- Trainer : Linda Britton
- Race Record : 63 Starts – 23 wins – 13 seconds – 9 thirds
- Prizemoney : $86,485
- Cannington 715m Record : 4 Starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 thirds
- Best Time : 41.76
- Pre Post Odds : $7.50
Comment : Handy former New South Wales and Victorian performer that has racing well since joining the Linda Britton kennel. Is one of the chances if he can stay in touch with the leaders. Beat some handy types home last week, place chance best.
Sirocco Hero
Sirocco Hero- Breeding : Collision ~ Scarlett Spy
- Whelped : September 2006
- Sex : Dog
- Colour : Red Brindle
- Owner/s :
- Trainer : Wayne Vassallo
- Race Record : 34 Starts – 8 wins – 10 seconds – 6 thirds
- Prizemoney : $40,320
- Cannington 715m Record : 2 Starts – 0 wins – 1 seconds – 0 thirds
- Best Time : 42.19
- Pre Post Odds : $7.50
Comment : Handy Victorian stayer that tired in the run to the line last week would need to improve on that run if he is have any say in this affair. Hard to see him winning it but he is capable of running a place.
Tawqeet Delta
Tawqeet Delta- Breeding : Primo Uno ~ Glimmering Black
- Whelped : July 2006
- Sex : Dog
- Colour : Red Brindle
- Owner/s : Dockerland racing Syndicate
- Trainer : Nathan Iwanyk
- Race Record : 32 Starts – 7 wins – 2 seconds – 1 thirds
- Prizemoney : $22,995
- Cannington 715m Record : 2 Starts – 1 wins – 1 seconds – 0 thirds
- Best Time : 42.25
- Pre Post Odds : $51
Comment : Has raced with some minor success in Victoria and has recorded fair time here is his only win. A stayer that has shown some ability at different times. Hard to have in this and would need to do everything right to win. Will start big odds.
Octanol
Octanol- Breeding : Pure Octane ~ My Girl Georgina
- Whelped : October 2006
- Sex : Dog
- Colour : Brindle
- Owner/s : Dave Hobby
- Trainer : Dave Hobby
- Race Record : 22 Starts – 8 wins – 4 seconds – 1 thirds
- Prizemoney : $65,895
- Cannington 715m Record : 2 Starts – 0 wins – 1 seconds – 0 thirds
- Best Time : 41.86
- Pre Post Odds : $13
Comment : Smart sprinter that has only just gone over the distance at his last few starts. Hasn't won over the 715 metres and hard to make a case for him winning here. Would need to improve to be a winning chance place hope best.
Risk It
Risk It- Breeding : Most Awesome ~ Eureka Disco
- Whelped : May 2006
- Sex : Dog
- Colour : Brindle
- Owner/s :
- Trainer : Troy Murray
- Race Record : 37 Starts – 15 wins – 7 seconds – 6 thirds
- Prizemoney : $36,110
- Cannington 715m Record : 3 Starts – 0 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
- Best Time : 42.08
- Pre Post Odds : $21
Comment : SHandy South Australian that has performed well in distance events in three states. Finished second to Vintage Octane last week but was well beaten. With some luck in running not without a chance hard to see him turning the tables on the favourite. Place chance best.
Tayza
Tayza- Breeding : Stately Bird ~ Crazy Habit
- Whelped : October 2005
- Sex : Bitch
- Colour : Brindle
- Owner/s : Greg Dwyer
- Trainer : Pete Sayer
- Race Record : 56 Starts – 20 wins – 4 seconds – 5 thirds
- Prizemoney : $97,840
- Cannington 715m Record : 28 Starts – 13 wins – 3 seconds – 2 thirds
- Best Time : 41.53
- Pre Post Odds : $11
Comment : Local star that represented WA in the National Distance Championship last year. Well performed here at Cannington with 13 wins and best winning time of 41.53, and she made the final of this race last year. Certainly has claims and is a genuine winning chance, is the
Big Loose Buddy
Big Loose Buddy- Breeding : Trendy Leigh ~ Abbadale Gold
- Whelped : November 2005
- Sex : Dog
- Colour : Black
- Owner/s :
- Trainer : John Vuletich
- Race Record : 34 Starts – 9 wins – 9 seconds – 5 thirds
- Prizemoney : $36,015
- Cannington 715m Record : 9 Starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 2 thirds
- Best Time : 41.78
- Pre Post Odds : $26
Comment : Local that has won three times here and came home strong last week to run down Sirocco Hero. Will need to do everything right to win but a big thrill for connections to make a Group 1 final. Will start good odds place chance best.
Lilley Criminal
- Breeding : Hallucinate ~ Que Dee Tee
- Whelped : October 2005
- Sex : Bitch
- Colour : Black
- Owner/s : Bigger Than Life Syndicate
- Trainer : Anthony Azzoapardi
- Race Record : 52 Starts – 23 wins – 5 seconds – 7 thirds
- Prizemoney : $193,643
- Cannington 715m Record : 1 Starts – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 1 thirds
- Best Time : 41.98
- Pre Post Odds : $8
Comment : New South Wales star who failed to perform last week has won two Group 1 races this year and would be a big chance if she gains a start.
Gunnadoo Magic
Gunnadoo Magic- Breeding : Token Prince ~ Go Shoopa
- Whelped : February 2005
- Sex : Bitch
- Colour : Blue
- Owner/s : Ben Howe
- Trainer : Rob Britton
- Race Record : 69 Starts – 28 wins – 17 seconds – 4 thirds
- Prizemoney : $270,235
- Cannington 715m Record : 6 Starts – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 1 thirds
- Best Time : 41.51
- Pre Post Odds : $9.00
Comment : Star Victorian stayer who up until last week was in career best form made this final last year when runner up always a chance if she can gain a start.