2015 TAS Sprint and Distance Championships tips and latest odds
WITH the representatives from Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia all locked in for the 2015 National Sprint and Distance Championships, the best from the Apple Isle will line up on Monday night at Launceston, all vying for a spot in the respective Group 1 features which will be run at Wentworth Park on August 22.
The Distance Championship will be the first to jump, with Lillycette the current $1.20 favourite with William Hill. The event looks to be at the mercy of the Ted Medhurst-trained bitch, which will be aiming for win number 23 at start 50.
Medhurst also has three in the Sprint Championship, including the early $2.35 favourite Retail Chart from box one. A veteran of just 14 race starts, this is a massive rise in class for the son of Barcia Bale and Miss Roman Nose, but with seven wins in his last nine starts, he does appear up to the task.
Medhurst's other chances are Star Chamber and Prescribe from boxes six and eight respectively. Star Chamber won his heat in an impressive 29.83 from box eight last week and is rated a $7.50 shot, while Prescribe, which was once considered the best greyhound in the state, qualified by running second behind Breaker's Tip (box seven – $2.90) and is currently $6.50 fixed with William Hill.
The Tasmanian Distance and Sprint Championships are races five and seven on the card at Launceston and will jump at 9:00pm and 9:40pm AEST respectively.
Lets check out the form for each runner, with comments and selections from Australian Racing Greyhound‘s expert tipster, Brad Bugeja.
Tasmanian Distance Championship – 720 metres
Box One – Midnight Bird
Blue Dog – 28.1kg – January 2012
High Earner x Supercilious
Prize money: $21,030
Trainer: Michael Dobson
Career: 52: 9-13-3
T/D: 6: 2-3-0
T/D Best: 42.56
“Midnight Bird would prefer to be drawn out wide, but he has been racing in dazzling form in recent months and with an ounce of luck early he should be right in the mix. He is normally a good beginner and if he does step well he could have the speed to hold out Lillycette, the only concern is that if Lillycette gets a half length in front he may ease out through the corner. It will all come down to what happens in the first 50m and he is one of the more serious chances in the race.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $3.80 with William Hill
Box Two – Frosty's Capable
White and Red Fawn Dog – 33.5kg – April 2013
Mildean Panther x Troublesome Miss
Prize money: $7,355
Trainer: Wayne Williams
Career: 28: 2-5-10
T/D: 4: 0-0-3
T/D Best: 42.87
“Frosty's Capable is an ultra consistent chaser and he will be charging home at the end. He has been placed in three of four over this journey and with a clear passage he should be in the money again. He tends to drop out early, but he will hit his straps mid race and he is blessed with great track sense. If the leaders happen to shuffle up he should be there to pounce at the end. If you're looking for value, he appears to be a great place bet.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $6.00 with William Hill
Box Three – Posh Renee
Light Fawn Bitch – 24.3kg – January 2013
Mogambo x Posh Di
Prize money:
Trainer: $9,385
Career: 42: 4-3-5
T/D: 2: 1-0-0
T/D Best: 43.29
“Fast beginner but will struggle in the closing stages. She has been doing most of her recent racing over the shorter journeys and she is likely to find the going tough. Will be big odds and just can't see her making an impact.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $41 with William Hill
Box Four – Trudels
Red Brindle Bitch – 25.4kg – February 2012
Bit Chili x Troublesome Miss
Prize money: $10,250
Trainer: Anthony Bullock
Career: 77: 3-9-8
T/D: 2: 0-0-1
T/D Best: 43.71
“Slow beginner and she is facing a big rise in class, she has won three of 77 overall and she is just not good enough. Will drop out early and is likely to find trouble, won't make any sort of impact.”
Box Five – Ruby Bailey
White Bitch – 28.6kg – April 2012
Cosmic Chief x Daisey Reltub
Prize money: $12,390
Trainer: Anthony Bullock
Career: 50: 5-8-7
T/D: 0: 0-0-0
T/D Best: N/A
“Making her staying debut tonight and is likely to find the going tough. She can show some early speed in her races but she should get headed mid race and she will find it difficult to keep up with some of her more seasoned opponents.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $101 with William Hill
Box Six – Miss Somebody
Black Bitch – 24.4kg – October 2011
Velocette x Cawbourne Debbie
Prize money: $24,475
Trainer: Susan Gittus
Career: 60: 12-11-9
T/D: 8: 1-1-0
T/D Best: 42.71
“Handy stayer who has been racing in solid style, two starts back she dropped back to the 580m journey and she looked impressive when scoring at Devonport in 33.09. Last week she took on a similar field to what she meets tonight and she was far from disgraced when finishing fourth. I don't think she can win tonight, but with some luck in running she could sneak into some minor money.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $14 with William Hill
Box Seven – Lillycette
Black Bitch – 25.9kg – April 2012
Velocette x Come Over Nova
Prize money: $55,140
Trainer: Ted Medhurst
Career: 29: 22-10-3
T/D: 6: 5-1-0
T/D Best: 42.55
“Class act and she has a tremendous winning record over this trip. She has had six tries over this journey for five brilliant wins and a placing. She is faultless early and I'm expecting her to be up there vying for the early lead. She does have a flat spot mid race, but if she does everything right in the first 50m she should be too far in front mid race. Will be short odds but she does appear to be a very safe bet.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $1.20 with William Hill
Box Eight – Mandy Charm
Black Bitch – 25.1kg – March 2013
St. Pierre x Wongawilli Wala
Prize money: $20,955
Trainer: Ted Medhurst
Career: 41: 12-4-5
T/D: 1: 0-0-0
T/D Best: 43.45
“Explosive talent who has scored some devastating wins over the middle distance in recent months. Last week she stepped up to the 720m journey and after missing the kick she was never really a factor. On that effort it was a little hard to tell if she was able to run the trip out strongly as she does do her best racing when on the lure. If she can fire to the early lead tonight she should give a great sight and I would expect big improvement from last week's effort.”
Top Four: 7 – 2 – 1 – 6
Suggested Bets:
Win bet on Lillycette
Quinella: 7 to rove with 1,2 ($2 for 100%)
Exacta: 2,7/1,2,7 ($4 for 100%)
Trifecta: 7/2/Field ($6 for 100%)
Trifecta: 7/Field/2 ($6 for 100%)
Tasmanian Sprint Championship – 515 metres
Box One – Retail Chart
Brindle Dog – 32.0kg – October 2013
Barcia Bale x Miss Roman Nose
Prize money: $11,360
Trainer: Ted Medhurst
Career: 14: 7-2-1
T/D: 4: 4-0-0
T/D Best: 29.56
“Retail Chart is an up and coming star and he has an amazing turn of foot. He has won his past three starts in explosive fashion with two of those wins being at Hobart in sub 26 seconds and the latest being here in a sizzling 29.67. If he can step cleanly from the red draw, he should have the speed to hold them out and they will have their work cut out trying to reel him in.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $2.35 with William Hill
Box Two – Wynburn Loco
Black Bitch – 25.7kg – April 2012
Collide x Hayley's Girl
Prize money: $20,740
Trainer: Anthony Bullock
Career: 48: 9-7-6
T/D: 18: 4-3-3
T/D Best: 29.71
“Good effort to qualify, but just isn't good enough to make an impact in this event. Last week she led them up and was still beaten by over nine lengths. She runs a great 450m but after that she starts to go up and down in the one spot.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $31 with William Hill
Box Three – Lisheen
Blue and White Dog – 31.9kg – April 2013
Premier Fantasy x Sitka
Prize money: $12,685
Trainer: Michael Louth
Career: 23: 7-5-2
T/D: 6: 1-2-1
T/D Best: 29.62
“Has shown tremendous improvement in recent weeks and it wouldn't surprise me if he happened to sneak into the placings. He is normally a very good beginner and his early sectionals match up well against his more fancied rivals. He is going to need to do everything right to feature, however if you're looking for an outsider with a genuine chance, he could be the one.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $19 with William Hill
Box Four – Posh Fire
Red Brindle Dog – 31.5kg – March 2013
Bit Chili x Posh Emma
Prize money: $26,340
Trainer: Anthony Bullock
Career: 37: 10-9-6
T/D: 10: 4-3-1
T/D Best: 29.47
“Blessed with a massive engine but he can be extremely hard to follow at times. He has won five of 11 over this trip and he owns a breathtaking 29.47 PB, if he pings away he is a great chance of scoring. The only concern tonight is that there is a heap of speed around him and he is likely to get spat out the back in the initial stages.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $16 with William Hill
Box Five – Elite Enfield
Blue Fawn Dog – 34.9kg – February 2013
Knocka Norris x Lady Eisenheim
Prize money: $27,360
Trainer: Nicholas Howard
Career: 41: 14-7-7
T/D: 13: 6-1-3
T/D Best: 29.67
“He recently returned from a solid stint in NSW and he looked impressive when scoring a commanding 29.83 heat win. That was his first run in over a month so I'm expecting him to find a little bit on the clock tonight. My concern with him is that he does his best racing when he can lead and dictate the terms, tonight's race features and abundance of speed and he may not get everything his own way. Strong chance but would need to take double figure odds about him.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $12 with William Hill
Box Six – Star Chamber
Black Dog – 32.1kg – December 2012
Lonesome Cry x Infatuation
Prize money: $32,630
Trainer: Ted Medhurst
Career: 47: 16-13-6
T/D: 13: 5-2-1
T/D Best: 29.65
“Another who is blessed with high speed and he was never pressured in his brilliant 29.83 heat win. Like a few of his rivals, if he can pounce on the lead he is a great winning hope, however with so much speed in the event it is likely that he will find bother in the early stages. Winning prospect but I would be happy to risk him.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $8.00 with William Hill
Box Seven – Breaker's Tip
Black Dog – 31.4kg – October 2012
Mogambo x Dennes Point
Prize money: $45,180
Trainer: Gary Fahey
Career: 33: 18-6-4
T/D: 11: 8-1-2
T/D Best: 29.46
“Absolute speed demon and he has won three of his past four here in scorching times. Last week he reeled of best of the night sectionals before stopping the clock in a breathtaking 29.46 overall. If he reproduces that effort he should be winning again, however he will need to do everything right in the early stages. The box draw is a big disadvantage tonight and that's why he isn't my top pick.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $2.90 with William Hill
Box Eight – Prescribe
Black Dog – 31.3kg – March 2013
St. Pierre x Wongawilli Wala
Prize money: $28,215
Trainer: Ted Medhurst
Career: 36: 12-6-7
T/D: 13: 4-3-1
T/D Best: 29.67
“Is probably the forgotten chaser in this event, at one stage he was the best sprinter in this State and a few months back he probably would have been favourite to win this event. I would prefer him from an inside draw, however he does have a few keen railers drawn directly underneath and that should allow him to get a nice cart across in the early stages. Great chaser on his night and he could be worth a bet if he is over the odds.”
Odds to win the TAS Distance Championship: $6.50 with William Hill
Top Four: 1 – 8 – 7 – 3
Suggested Bets:
Win bets on Retail Chart and Prescribe
Boxed Quinella: 1,3,7,8 ($6 for 100%)
Exacta: 1,8/1,3,7,8 ($6 for 100%)
Trifecta: 1,7,8/1,3,7,8/1,3,5,6,7,8 ($36 for 100%)