Some of Australia's most consistent middle distance chasers will line up against a superstar of the loam on Thursday night at Sandown when they vie for the $40,000 first prize in the Group Two McKenna Memorial.
The race will be contested over the 595 metre journey and is race nine on the card which is scheduled to jump at 9:35pm.
With a field of such professional conveyances assembled it will be the greyhound who makes no mistakes who is likely to win the event.
Here is a look at the field with comments from connections;
Comments: ARG opinion is – The undisputed Queen of Australian greyhound racing who looks to have this race at her mercy. She will be afforded every opportunity with two wide runners drawn on her immediate outside. She has shown a ton of tenacity to come from behind in her last two wins and is devastating from the front as well. If she lobs on the bunny it will be a case of eyes on the clock. She is the one to beat.
Comments: Kelly Bravo (Trainer) – “I was pretty happy with his run last week, it was his first 595 metre race and it was a bit of a gamble putting him in. He pulled up well after running on over 515 metres the week before so we thought we would giver it a go. He likes to get out to the centre of the track which is a bit of a worry, he can handle the inside boxes okay because he has a bit of early pace, but realistically I think we are running for a place, Xylia Allen is just a champion.”
Comments: Angela Langton (Trainer) – “I was very happy with last week's run because she had come back a little bit sore after Brisbane. She likes to use the track a little bit too so maybe I'd have preferred her drawn in the six. She can go quicker than last week if she isn't headed but it is going to be a very tough race, Xylia Allen is a champion and racing very well.”
Comments: Tom Dailly (Co-Trainer) – “He will have to lead if he is going to win, you can not give Xylia Allen a start and think that you are any hope of beating her. He will need to jump.”
Comments: Jamie Ennis (Co-Trainer) – “We are going to need a lot of luck, our best chance is probably if Musquin Bale comes out fast and crosses the field and we can go with him. But really the race looks perfectly set up for Xylia Allen, especially with Great Spartacus in box two wanting to use the track. I think Xylia Allen is $1.20 in fixed odds betting and she deserves to be. We did win the race with Strong Intention a few years ago and he was a $12 or $14 chance so stranger things have happened.”
Comments: Angela Langton (Co-Trainer) – “She did really well to run those dogs down last week. She is getting on a bit and has had quite a few starts. She will be quite valuable to us as a brood bitch. She has done well to make the final and will need luck to be in the finish.”
Comments: Angela Langton (Co-Trainer) – “She just needs that little bit of early pace back again. She tries so hard and is always thereabouts at the finish, I'd just love to be able to see her near the front early.”
Comments: Tom Dailly (Co-Trainer) – “I was pretty happy with her run last week. The wide box is not going to be a problem provided that she comes out. If she lobs she could be a sneaky chance at big odds.”
Comments: Consistent on pacer who rarely runs a bad race. Will need to be at her best to to compete here.
Best Sandown Park Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
34.17
34.34
9.09
9.09
On paper, Xylia Allen simply wins this race every time. She is entitled to start a very short favourite and is expected to win. It will take an out of character performance to see her lose.
There is plenty of pace in the race from Great Spartacus (2), Tarks Nemesis (3), Musquin Bale (4), Mepunga Tiara (7) and Searle Bale (8).
With both Great Spartacus and Tarks Nemesis being wide runners, Xylia Allen should get plenty of room to move.
Dream It (5) is likely to need luck early on to avoid trouble.
Heidi Go Seek (6) will be doing her best work in the concluding stages.
