We are set for a huge night with the 2017 Group 1 Sky Racing Topgun & Group 2 Sky Racing Topgun Stayers as well as five heats of the Group 1 Hume Cup are set to take place Saturday night at The Meadows.
HUME CUP HEAT 1 (Race 3)
A very open race to start but I’m selecting the NSW chaser BIG DADDY BEE (3). Think he can sit in the top 2, hug the rail and be to strong to the line.
WIN BET – BIG DADDY BEE
HUME CUP HEAT 2 (Race 4)
I’m selecting ZIPPING ANGUS on top here despite jumping from box 6. He loves being on the outside and he is unbeaten here at The Meadows over the 600m. Expect him to be very hard to beat.
WIN BET – ZIPPING ANGUS
HUME CUP HEAT 3 (Race 5)
Plenty of talent in this field. SHADALE has drawn perfectly in box 8 and is a short priced fav to win but he can do a bit wrong. If he puts it all together he will run the arms off the clock but I’m willing to select ROCKOON to run a place despite the squeeze draw. He will be powering home late and if he has clear room early, look out!
PLACE BET – ROCKOON
2017 Group 2 Sky Racing Topgun Stayers event is Race 6
$75,000 going to the winner. If the champion FANTA BALE is to win she will take her overall earnings over the $1 million and become just the 3rd greyhound ever to reach this incredible mark. She has drawn poorly in box 5 but as we have seen before she can overcome any draw to smash her rivals.
The matchup between her and BURN ONE DOWN is exciting in itself. BOD has drawn next to her in box 6 and he was devastating last start at Warragul. He has a sensational record at The Meadows and if he can be close enough to them early he will be hard to beat.
Last years winner RING THE BELL returns back to Australia after a very successful trip to New Zealand which included two Group 1 wins. If he can jump to the front from box 3 he will be giving them something to chase.
I backed South Australian Star BOGIE BEKIM 6 weeks ago at $51 so I am cheering him on but unfortunately he has drawn poorly in box 4. He is going to have to ping the lids and hit the front early to be able to win this. His trainer is one of the best young trainers in the country and he has taken a different approach to this campaign in Victoria so hopefully that pays off for him and connections (and my pockets!)
Tough to make a decision on who will win but to play it safe I’ll be selecting FANTA BALE to win but won’t be actually betting in the race.
HUME CUP HEAT 4 (Race 7)
We have had Sarah Appleton and her little superstar MOMENT TO JIVE staying with us over the past few weeks in preparation for the big races coming up in Victoria over the next few weeks. She trialled last week at The Meadows and we were really happy with her run. She is 2nd reserve for the Stayers Topgun so if she doesn’t gain a start there she will line up from box 6 in this heat. The draw is not great and it is a very good even field but she has had a very good preparation and we expect her to go well.
The Group 1 2017 Sky Racing Topgun is set for race 8 over the 525 meters with $150k to the winner.
ANDO’S MAC (1) has drawn perfectly in box 1 for this event and will be extremely hard to beat from this draw. He has sensational last start at Sandown and expect him to do the same here.
ASTON DEE BEE (2) is one of the quickest chasers in the country and has drawn well in box 2 to sit behind the early leaders. He does like to shift up the track at the first turn so if he does jump evenly with the field expect there to be carnage at the first turn.
STRIKER LIGHT (3) is a faultless beginner and Shen has drawn well in box 3 to lead with Ando’s Mac here. Since coming back from injury she has been breathtaking her first 2 sections but her run home times have been very poor. Expecting this to be a difficult task for her.
RAW ABILITY (4) received a late invation into this event after his last start Group 1 Adelaide Cup win. I backed him to win Topgun at $35 prior to the running of the Adelaide Cup so I will be cheering him on. I believe he is drawn perfectly despite being in box 4 as he will get plenty of room to accelerate with Striker Light crossing to the fence and Aqua Cheetah on his outside running straight. Huge player.
AQUA CHEETAH (5) won the Group 1 Megastar two starts ago from his ideal draw box 8. This looks much tougher for him but if there happens to be carnage at the first turn he could sweep around the outside.
LIGHTNING FRANK (6) returns to the scene of his previous Group 1 victories and we wish our great mate punting stars tipster Ricky and all the other owners all the best in this race with Frank. He will need to begin better than what he has been at his previous few starts against this group especially with the pace on his outside. His two runs at Angle Park he hit the line extremely well but think he will have to settle in the top 3 at the first turn if he is to win another Group 1 at The Meadows.
UP HILL JILL (7) another lid pinger who will be out in front early. She has only missed a placing 5 Times out of her 49 career starts which is an incredible achievement. She has been runners-up in over 6 Group race finals which just shows how consistent she is. Would love to see her take this out but she will need to gain a big break on them early to be able to hold on in the final stages.
MISTER TWISTER (8) has been sensational in New South Wales for gun trainer Jason McKay. Mister Twister did jump from the same box here last start night and even though it was a poor performance he will now have the experience of the track which will help him in tonight’s race. Could get a nice cart into the race via Up Hill Jill but expecting it to be a tough ask for him from box 8.
Will be having a saver on ANDO’S MAC for a win but will be cheering on RAW ABILITY
HUME CUP HEAT 5 (Race 9)
Jason McKay Trainer RILEY TOKAAM will jump from box 7 in the final heat and he looks extremely hard to beat. His run last week here at the track over the 525m indicated that the step up in trip will suit him perfectly. Drawn well on the outside expect him to settle midfield and run over the top of them late.
WIN BET – RILEY TOKAAM
Good luck to all runners and punters on the night! One of the best nights racing I have seen in a long time! Enjoy!