Group 3 Nowra Summer Puppy Classic – free tips and preview
MEGSIE Marble is the short priced favourite to take out Saturday's Group 3 Nowra Summer Puppy Classic after two slashing performances in her heat and semi-final respectively.
The daughter of High Earner and Secret Marble came into the series with a sizzling 29.89 maiden win at Dapto on debut, but made light work of her more seasoned opposition, taking out her heat by a widening four and three quarter lengths in 29.54 – just four one hundredths off Aphorism's track record.
Trained by Merv Buckley, Megsie Marble followed up that run with another dominant win in her semi, defeating the classy Bulkender by a widening seven and a half lengths in 29.65.
With nice early toe and a suitable draw in box three, online bookmaker Crownbet.com.au quickly installed Megsie Marble as the $1.55 favourite.
On the next line of betting is Zulu Power, which has drawn box six for the third time in her three start career. She is rated a $4.80 shot to take home the $25,000 winner's cheque, holding the fastest first section going into the final and a dazzling 29.81 personal best.
Trainer Ruth Matic spoke to Australian Racing Greyhound earlier in the week, rating her charge a realistic chance of figuring in the finish despite the poor box draw.
The only other runner under double figures is Fantastic Polar from box five.
The white dog is a son of Swift Fancy and prolific producer Light Fantastic, with the 33 kilogram chaser one of the early favourites to take out the final.
A winner of six of his 17 starts, Fantastic Polar has shown his share of potential throughout his career thus far, however he will need plenty of luck from the squeeze box against a quality field.
One thing working in Fantastic Polar's favour is that he is trained by Jason Fletcher, a man who knows a thing or two about winning the Classic, having trained the ultra consistent Fantastic Spiral to victory in the 2015 edition.
Bulkender is an $11 chance with Crownbet.com.au after his second in last week's semi, however he showed his true ability in his heat when clocking an airborne 29.87 from box three.
The regally bred son of Where's Pedro and Tifi moves into box eight for the decider, but being a big 37 kilogram dog he should appreciate the clear galloping room and he will be out to make his own luck in the early stages.
Michael Clayton's Martam Gold is the only other runner given a realistic winning shot by the bookies, currently paying $12 for the win from box two.
The daughter of Fabregas and Ebony Devil caught the eye when running second to Megsie Marble in her heat, clocking 29.88 in defeat, but will need to find another gear to go one better in the showpiece.
The Group 3 Nowra Summer Puppy Classic is race six on the card this Saturday and is set to jump at 6:47pm local time.
Tips:
3. Megsie Marble
6. Zulu Power
8. Bulkender
Group 3 Nowra Summer Puppy Classic market
1 – Blinky's Idol – $51
2 – Martam Gold – $12
3 – Megsie Marble – $1.55
4 – Maya Herrara – $17
5 – Fantastic Polar – $6.50
6 – Zulu Power – $4.80 with Crownbet.com.au
7 – Rafferty's Rules – $41
8 – Bulkender – $11
1st res – Tin Pan Ally – $61
2nd res – Worrigee Road – $51