The final of the 2014 Group One AJS Corporation Silver Chief at The Meadows is one of the most even fields in recent memory. Based on first split times you can literally throw a Kleenex over the field at the end of the first section, and it's not much different when it comes to the finish either.
The race could well be decided in the run down the straight the first time, with the charge into the first turn likely to be no place for the faint hearted. Whoever can manage to get through that part of the event unscathed should take a power of beating.
In a race that has a history of producing some of the finest greyhounds of their generations, this years instalment looks like an engrossing battle with any of the eight starters a chance at not only scooping the $100,000 first prize, but also etching their name into greyhound racing immortality.
Comments: Paul Akathiotis (Trainer) – “You've gotta be quick out of the boxes, you need to run around the five second mark to lead basically. I'm keeping him fresh, I've given him a free gallop on Tuesday and I'm keeping him fresh until Saturday, you want him to jump out and lead. He has gone 5.04 and 5.05 in trials so he can do it, he can lead. I'm just hoping to run a good race, there's some pretty good dogs in there.”
Comments: Darren Brown (Trainer) – “I'm very happy with the box, I'd much prefer there than out wide. I'd like to see him lead but the dog he ran against last week, Top Innings, he does begin, but he's gotta be able to get down so if we both begin, I've got the fence and there's going to be a lot of interference coming down to the winning post. You can't be too confident going into this race because virtually every dog has an identical first split, give or take a length and they're all evenly matched.”
Comments: Joe Borg (Trainer) – “I'm happy with him being on the inside even though he's had most of his starts on the outside. Box three is new to him so we really have no idea what he's going to do, but hopefully he pings straight to the front. The four wins he has had there, he has began well but still found interference. In this type of race, a Group One final, you'd prefer no interference at all. That's what we are hoping for, a clean start and a clean run to the first turn, that will set up the race for him.”
Comments: Michelle Mallia-Magri (Trainer) – “He's probably the most unlucky dog I've got in the shed when it comes to box draws. You have to lead in these races. I think the two (Ride The Rails) goes to the fence, so if he jumps I'm just hoping I can beat Deadly Vane out of the boxes and at worst, I'll have a sit on the two. That's my aim anyway, it doesn't always work out that way unfortunately.”
Comments: Andrea Dailly (Trainer) – “The box isn't great, but he chases hard, we've just gotta hope he gets a clear run early. He doesn't ping the boxes but he does accelerate quite quickly. He'd be a chance of leading if they left him alone early but realistically I don't think he will lead.“
Comments: Darren McDonald (Trainer) – “He's probably going to struggle. Box six has given him no favours. He's only a young dog, he's up against the odds with the dogs that are in there but he's got a little chance I suppose. He's a leader, if he gets to the front he could maybe run a place. He's not overly strong at this stage so he'll have to get to the front and get a bit of a break and hope they crash behind.”
Comments: Jeffrey Britton (Trainer) – “He will have to lead, he won't be coming from behind and there's probably a few in the race like that. If he misses it from out there, well you're in big strife. I'm sure if there's a little bit of buffeting around the first turn it won't bother him, he's a pretty good chaser, but we have to be up the front. You just hope he does everything right.”
Comments: Andrea Dailly (Trainer) – “I would like him out wide if it was anywhere but the Meadows, it's very hard to get across from the pink at the Meadows. He'll need to really come out flying. I'd like him to be in the first couple.”
Comments: Promising young dog who would be in this up to his ears if he gained a start.
Best The Meadows Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
29.94
30.35
5.11
5.19
Top Innings looks to hold all the aces in this race. If he can begin and lead from box seven then it could be all over. Should he miss the start, look for Ride The Rails in box two or Veetee Turbo in box four to capitalise on their opportunity. Deadly Vane and Ollie Bale can also loom as big dangers if they can land anywhere near the speed as they go down the back. This is shaping up as one heck of a race.
Is there attractions for the kids tonight
Is there attractions for the kids tonight