2014 Group One Hume Cup Heats Preview
The cream of Australia's middle distance racing crop will dominate the program at The Meadows on Saturday night when seven heats of the Group One Hume Cup take place.
The final will be held next week with $75,000 awaiting connections of the winner.
The first heat of the night will be Race Three which is scheduled to jump at 7:58pm.
Here is a look at some of the main attractions in each of the heats;
Race 3 – Hume Cup Heat One – 7:58pm
Group winning stayer Zipping Maggie (4) drops back to the 600 metre journey for trainer Peter Dapiran in this opening qualifier. She has won 12 from 25 and has plenty of talent and jumps from box four for the first time in her career. She has enough early pace to be prominent here and will be finishing the race off well.
Tarks Nemesis (1) is first up since July but is a quality middle distance chaser in the astute hands of Angela Langton. She may have been better suited from a wide box but has to be respected.
Texas Titan (7) steps up to middle distance racing for Jeff Britton and gives every impression that he will relish the journey.
Spring Leaf (6) is yet to miss a place over the 600 metre trip at The Meadows in four outings and could be some sort of knockout at double figure odds.
Race 4 – Hume Cup Heat Two – 8:22pm
Musquin Bale (1) looks to hold all the aces in the second heat. He enjoys an inside draw and has been producing some of his career's best sprint efforts of late. He will go very close to leading this and, if he does, he will take some catching.
Eliza Blanche (6) has won her last six in a row and saluted in her only start over this trip in 34.80 two starts back. She is a versatile type who can lead or come from behind and is in the strong Darren McDonald kennel. She is a massive hope here.
Warrior King (8) has his first crack at middle distance Group Racing for Brooke Ennis. He looks to have drawn well out wide but is yet to prove himself over a trip like this. His best chances will be if he can land close to the speed.
Hailstorm Billy (5) has been racing well below his best but has a great record here. If he replicates his personal best of 34.47 he will be a hope in this.
Race 6 – Hume Cup Heat Three – 8:57pm
The third heat features superstar bitch Xylia Allen (7). She is the track record holder over this journey and has been freshened for her assault on yet another Group One. If she comes out on terms here she is going to take a lot of beating.
Deadly Boy (5) is a very strong type who clocked a swift 34.46 here two starts back. He has to be considered on that effort.
Tweak (8) is always thereabouts and is far from the worst based on the credence of his all-the-way 34.48 victory here last week.
Race 7 – Hume Cup Heat Four – 9:20pm
The classy My Bro Fabio (2) looks to have a mortgage on the fourth heat when he jumps from box two for Brooke Ennis. The Canberra Cup winner, who many consider unlucky not to be contesting the Top Gun, has been sizzling over the sprints of late, winning six of his last eight. He would have to find trouble to not win this one.
Cosmic Wise (1) returns from an Adelaide Cup campaign and looks to have everything in her favour here. She has an imposing record from box one, winning four from five and has also won two from three over this journey with a best of 34.47. She is the obvious danger to the favourite.
Flying Twist (8) has won her last four on the trot and loves The Meadows. She is undefeated at this trip from two attempts and has a best of 34.58. She is far from the worst.
Race 9 – Hume Cup Heat Five – 10:25pm
The fifth heat looks to be a very open affair. The Jeff Britton trained Mepunga Hayley (6) has not won since August but has the runs on the board. She has clocked a zippy 34.36 here in the past and, should she produce something like that in this race, she will be in it up to her ears.
Dream It (5) comes into the race after a fighting second to kennel mate My Bro Fabio last week. He has won here in the past in 34.73 and, if he finds the front, it's going to take a good greyhound to get past him.
Ralphy Cinel (1) has been racing in terrific heart and has won his last three. He is drawn to land on the bunny and give them something to catch.
Race 10 – Hume Cup Heat Six – 7:58pm
The penultimate heat sees Julie Bale (6) boasting a terrific record over the 600 metres at The Meadows. She has won four from seven with a best of 34.57 which brings her right into calculations here. She has won three of her last six with all of those victories coming at this track.
Ima Fairytale (3) has won both of her starts over this trip and is very hard to run down if she lands on the bunny. She drops back from an attempt over more ground for this but has had a two week freshen up and should be cherry ripe to put her best paw forward.
Bessy Boo (2) is a strong New South Wales sprinter who looks suited to the extra ground. If he can adapt to the track he has to be considered a chance in this.
Know Class (8) is an interesting runner. The veteran Kiwi returned from a spell with a win over 515 metres at Sandown. He is a grinding type who has plenty of strength and could surprise in a race like this.
Can Can Hurrican (1) has managed at least a place in nine of his 12 goes over this journey. He has a love affair with box one, winning five of six when he sports the cherry stretch vest. He is the knockout hope.
Race 11 – Hume Cup Heat Seven – 11:00pm
The last heat will see Bookkeeper (1) looking to recapture his best form. At his best he is simply devastating and has won five from eight at The Meadows with a best of 34.06. His three runs since February have been well below par and he can only be taken on trust.
Kelly Bravo's Lethal Three (2) is a strong type who has won two at The Meadows with a best of 34.43. Her race will depend a lot on how well she can leave the boxes. If she is near the lead, she is a huge hope.
Maximum Lil (4) is a classy type who won at her only attempt over this journey in 34.62. She should enjoy the return back to 600 metres after recent interstate racing in New South Wales and South Australia at Group level over the sprints.
Gorham Bale (8) gives the impression that 600 metres will be right up his alley based on his recent strong wins over the shorter trip at The Meadows. He faces a rise in grade here but has to be considered.