2014 Group Two Healesville Cup Preview

The 2014 Group Two final this Sunday boasts arguably one of the most even fields in many years. A fairly solid case can be put forward for almost every runner for the world's richest straight-track race, in what promises to be a real blue-ribbon affair.

Hobart Thousand winner Paw Licking is the pre-post favourite for the event, with the popular winner Walk Hard also well fancied.

The final takes place at 12:19pm

Box 1
Race Odds
$12.00
Heat Replay
 
Nic Nat Nui
Trainer
Owner
Horizon Gold Racing Syndicate
Prizemoney
$44,930.00
Last 10 Starts
7323111281
33 Months   Black   Dog   by   Premier Fantasy Monasito
Start Risky Running Middle Finish Fair
Prizemoney Rating $1,321.00 Rating 95
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
34 10 9 8
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
29% 79%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 1 0 0
       
Box 1 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 1 0

Comments: Kelly Bravo (Trainer) – “Box eight would have been better, but one is probably a lot better than four or five. We thought he was well drawn last week. He's a little bit of a risky beginner at the boxes sometimes so I think being drawn off the track, particularly in a straight line, allows him to muster a little bit. I don't know if he will get that chance from box one.”

Best Healesville Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
19.09 19.09 6.56 6.56
Box 2
Race Odds 
$2.50
Heat Replay
 
Paw Licking
Trainer
Kelvyn Greenough
Owner
Allan Lang
Prizemoney
$294,900.00
Last 10 Starts
1271211231
35 Months   White and Black   Dog   by  
Start Excellent Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $6,274.00 Rating 99
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
47 28 8 3
       
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
56% 83%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
3 2 0
       
Box 2 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
4 3 0 0
Comments:  Kel Greenough (Trainer) – “It's not a bad draw, he's normally pretty reliable and every time he races he has a pretty good crack. It's just the dogs drawn around him that might be a worry, I know Transcend Time can begin brilliantly. If my bloke doesn't lead then he can't win, I think it's the sort of race where you just wouldn't want to do anything wrong.”
Best Healesville Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
19.00 19.00 6.54 6.54
Box 3
Race Odds
$13.00
Heat Replay
 
Transcend Time
Trainer
Wayne Vassallo
Owner
T Whittington & G Sprod
Prizemoney
$113,060.00
Last 10 Starts
1711611551
40 Months   Brindle   Dog   by   Bombastic Shiraz
Start Good Running Middle Finish Fair
Prizemoney Rating $2,827.00 Rating 94
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
40 23 5 2
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
58% 75%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 2 0 0
Box 3 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 2 0 0
Comments: Wayne Vassallo (Trainer) – “It's probably not ideal being drawn outside of Paw Licking, but he's better close to the rail so it's a reasonable draw. I think he was slightly hampered last week so I'd say he can go a touch quicker than what he ran.”
Best Healesville Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
19.18 19.21 6.53 N/A
Box 4
 Race Odds
$3.80
Heat Replay
 
Walk Hard
Trainer
Nicole McRae
Owner
Nicole McRae
Prizemoney
$121,210.00
Last 10 Starts
5131121111

41 Months

  Black   Dog   by   Bit Chili Miss Bling
Start Risky Running Middle Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $3,463.00 Rating 100
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
35 17 9 3
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
49% 83%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
6 5 1 0
Box 4 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
9 2 4 0
Comments: Nicole McRae (Trainer) – “We have never had any luck with the boxes, maybe eventually one day he will draw a good box. I know how strong he is but he will have to be up there, you can't give them too much of a head start up the straight, it is only 350 metres. He's pulled up good, he should have gone a couple of lengths quicker last week but he had a dog cannon into him and lay all over him for half of the race.”
Best Healesville Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
18.82 19.01 6.54 6.58
Box 5
Race Odds
$10.00
Heat Replay
 
Zulu Zircon
Trainer
Jason Thompson
Owner
J Britton & D Bloom
Prizemoney
$12,105.00
Last 10 Starts
1142421131
30 Months   Black   Dog   by   Where's Pedro Fancy Jaffa
Start Good Running Middle Finish

Strong

Prizemoney Rating $1,100.00 Rating 92
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
11 6 2 1
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
55% 82%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 1 0 0
Box 5 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 1 0 0
Comments: Jason Thompson (Trainer) – “Somebody has to draw box five, I'd rather him in there than sitting at home in his kennel. Like any of these big races, you need to begin. If he begins how we know he can then he will be right in the race, he ran down a good dog last week in Dark Warrior. He can definitely go quicker, that was his first run up the straight last week.”
Best Healesville Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
19.16 19.16 N/A N/A
Box 6
Race Odds
$26.00
Heat Replay
 
Vapourash
Trainer
Wayne Vassallo
Owner
Ski Time Sydnicate
Prizemoney
$59,750.00
Last 10 Starts
3118178851
45 Months   Black   Dog   by   Vapour Whirl Lankan Flash
Start Slow Running Middle Finish Fair
Prizemoney Rating $3,515.00 Rating 90
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
54 17 8 6
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
31% 57%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
3 2 0 1
Box 6 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
5 2 1  0
Comments: Wayne Vassallo (Trainer) – “He'd been trialling pretty good before last week and I thought he was a chance, but he's going to have his work cut out for him this week. He hasn't drawn well and the others have a few lengths on him. He's sort of got to lead, if he can lead he is usually right, but if not he can put in an average run.”
Best Healesville Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
19.21 19.21 N/A N/A
Box 7
Race Odds
$10.00
Heat Replay
 
Coco Benz
Trainer
David Geall
Owner
Sovereign Racing Syndicate
Prizemoney
$24,615.00
Last 10 Starts
1711161131
35 Months   Black   Bitch   by   Bright Ebony On The Ball
Start Excellent Running Rail Finish Fair
Prizemoney Rating

$1,070.00

Rating 97
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
23 15 2 2
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
65% 83%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 1 0 0
Box 7 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
4 1 1 1
Comments: David Geall (Trainer) –  “We give her a good chance, the draw hasn't helped but she is a very fast bitch. She has surprised me at how fast she is but she hasn't surprised the owners. I thought she might take a few more runs to get used to our way of training down here, but she has in really well and has virtually done the job straight away.”
Best Healesville Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
19.04 19.04 6.41 6.41
Box 8
Race Odds
$4.50
Heat Replay
 
Frosty Jay Jay
Trainer
Kelvyn Greenough
Owner
Renald Attard
Prizemoney
$55,090.00
Last 10 Starts
6153371741
32 Months   White and Fawn   Dog   by   Slick Hannah
Start Slow Running Wide Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $1,312.00 Rating 94
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
42 16 2 6
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
38% 57%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1  1 0 0
Box 8 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
7 6 0  0
Comments: Kel Greenough (Trainer) – “He's drawn exactly where he wants to be. Last week he overcame a few difficulties and realistically probably lost four or five lengths so he has to come into it with a bit of a chance. He has a pretty good record off the outside. He's got his box and he will stay out wide so he gets his chance to win a group final.”
Best Healesville Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
19.27 19.27 N/A N/A
1st Res
Race Odds
$26.00
Heart Replay
 
Flying Bolt
Trainer
Andrew Mooney
Owner
Andrew Mooney
Prizemoney
$17,300.00
Last 10 Starts

1464631262

33 Months   Black and White   Dog   by   Itza Choker
Start Risky Running Middle Finish Fair
Prizemoney Rating $412.00 Rating 88
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
42 11 7 3
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
26% 50%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
4 1 2  0
Box Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Comments:  Will need luck to feature if he gains a start.
Best Healesville Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
19.20 19.15 6.55 N/A
2nd Res
Race Odds
$5.50
Heat Replay
 
Dark Warrior
Trainer
Owner
Fast Track Racing Syndicate
Prizemoney
$111,940.00
Last 10 Starts
2513312312
37 Months   Black   Dog   by   Where's Pedro Shanlyn Supreme
Start Good Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $2,153.00 Rating 92
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
52 27 8 6
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
52% 79%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
3 2 1 0
Box Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Comments: Could race on the pace and put in a bold showing if he gains a start.
Best Healesville Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
19.10 19.18 6.60 6.62

The moment the boxes fly open on Sunday will be ultra-important for Paw Licking (2) and Coco Benz (7) who look the main chances to lead. If Walk Hard (4) is parked anywhere near the early leaders he should be able to run over the top of them, but the box draw has not been too kind to him.

Transcend Time (3) and Zulu Zircon (5) are also runners who will loom large if they land anywhere near the speed, while risky beginner Nic Nat Nui (1) is also a chance should he fly the lids.

The real smokey in the field has to be Frosty Jay Jay (8). He could well find himself all alone out wide from the box he relishes and with the space he needs to unwind, the rest will be up to him.

With so many genuine chances in the race, the winner is likely to be the dog who does everything right and possibly gets a little luck along the way. This race should be an absolute gem.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
2 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Martin Ebb
Martin Ebb
10 years ago

Great stuff guys, I had a good win on Frosty after reading this, it all panned out perfectly.

Martin Ebb
Martin Ebb
10 years ago

Great stuff guys, I had a good win on Frosty after reading this, it all panned out perfectly.