Greyhound Analysis: Gold Cup Final

Race 8: Gold Cup Final - 710m

Track Record: Dashing Corsair 41.44 (20/05/2010)

Honour Roll

2017- Fanta Bale

2016- My Boy Brodie

2015- Dzeko

2014- Xylia Allen

2013- Destni Fireball

Field and Stats

1. Rippin Sam: No best winning time. Ran 42.26 when running third in heat with first split of 16.44.  Has amassed $275k in career prizemoney. Recent winner of the Group 2 Lizrene Speed Star and Group 1 Perth Galaxy.

2. Gelantipy Gold: No best winning time. Ran 42.12 when runner up in heat with a first split of 16.21.Competing in his third Group final. Never won in three attempts here.

3. Tornado Tears: No best winning time. Ran third in heat in 42.12, first split of 16.21. Has never raced from this box. Only missed a placing four times in 18 career starts. 2018 Group 1 Sandown Cup winner.

4. Shoes To Fill: No best winning time. Ran 42.00 in heat with a first split of 15.80 (second quickest). Has never won from this draw in seven starts.

5. Benali: Best 41.91. Won his heat leading all the way and recorded a first split of 15.74 (quickest). Two wins and a placing from three starts from this draw.

6. Jalapeno: Best 41.70 (24/5/18). Won his heat in 41.75 with a first split of 16.29. 28 of 38 career starts have been at this track. This is his best performed box with five wins from seven career starts.

7. Ebby Ripper: Best 41.81 (15/6/17).  Ran fourth in heat in time of 42.13 with a first split of  16.20 Competing in her 12th Group race final. Only missed a placing once from this draw (seven starts).

8. Cyn’s Magic: No best winning time. Yet to win here in four attempts. Ran fourth in heat in time of 42.34 with a first split of 16.09. Only one win in 11 attempt from Box 8.

9. Magic Hornet: First emergency.

10. Simon Keeping: Second emergency.

Race Analysis

Tricky race. The two gun Victorian stayers Rippin Sam and Tornado Tears don’t seem to be going as well as they were a month ago but it is very hard to go against them either.

Tornado Tears was checked at a crucial early in his heat last week as he was about to explode to the lead. He is worth another chance and will be better for the run as last week was his first look in a race. He should map second here and be able to run down the leader

Benali led all the way in his heat and looks the likely leader. He could lead this for a long way and if there is any trouble behind he could grip on to win.

Rippin Sam seems to be a little off his best at the moment but is a genuine superstar on his night. He seems to dislike being crowded early in his races of late so the inside draw is no help to him here but I am not willing to lay him either.

Jalapeno is probably the best of the locals but has a tricky draw. He laps up this distance range and loves the track. If there is any trouble upfront he could be the blowout hope at huge odds on the exchange.

Ebby Ripper is a veteran chaser who is still racing well but she can be a little too hard to catch for mine. Every now and then she can ping the lids and get forward early but most of the times she drops out the back and finishes in a flurry.

Cyn’s Magic can also finish strongly over this distance range but this field has too many stars involved and I can’t see her causing an upset.

Gelantipy Gold has been thereabouts in recent races without winning but probably doesn’t have the class to win a race of this quality.

Shoes To Fill looks to have a bright staying future but in only his 4th attempt at the 710 metre journey I will be looking elsewhere.

Selections

1st – Tornado Tears (3)

2nd – Benali (5)

3rd – Rippin’ Sam (1)