2011 Group 1 Adelaide Cup Greyhound Racing Series Preview And Tips
The 2011 version of the Group 1 Tattsbett.com Adelaide Cup will kick off at Angle Park this week. Last year saw Victorian sprinter Dyna Lachlan win the prize over a quality field that included High Earner, Mr Metz, Springvale Dash and Strictly Mambo. Likewise this year, a very talented pool of interstate greyhounds have come across to tackle the $96,000 final that is the climax to a three week series.
In a unique format, the Adelaide Cup sees 16 nominated greyhounds to automatically progress to the semi finals, with all other nominations competing in the first round of heats (to be held Thursday night). The first two placegetters from those eight heats will join the 16 seeded dogs the week after, to compete in four semi finals.
Also incorporated into the GRSA summer chasing carnival is the Advertiser Interstate Challenge – a special event where four invited interstate greyhounds meet four of the best South Australia can offer. Below is a comprehensive look at all eights cup heats as well as the highly-anticipated Interstate Challenge.
Tattsbet.com Adelaide Cup Heat 1
Selections: 1) C’est La Vie 2) Wikena 3) Geisha Bale
C’est La Vie is a Group race winner who normally shows excellent early speed. With a good draw here she should take some catching. Wikena is a 29.77 winner on the track and has plenty of toe but hasn’t been stepping as well in recent starts. Led Zeppelin flew around Sale last start in BON time and Geisha Bale can show some real dash too but will need to overcome box four. Max Da Muss is will be running on late in what looks to be an open affair.
Tattsbet.com Adelaide Cup Heat 2
Selections: 1) Shereen Bale 2) New Year’s Punch 3) Flying Molly
Hard to go past Shereen Bale here. Her recent form is solid, narrowly going down in a Cranbourne Cup heat on Monday. She has posted very smart times around Sandown and with any luck Graeme Bate will have at least one heat winner. The appropriately named New Year’s Punch has drawn box one and looms as the biggest threat after being very competitive in the Laurels series at The Meadows. Flying Molly is the best of the locals and has won twice from wide draws in the last month. Look for her to arrive late on the scene.
Tattsbet.com Adelaide Cup Heat 3
Selections: 1) Dark Duo 2) Rev Limiter 3) Sargent Trigga
This third heat is a tricky race with not much early speed. Rev Limiter is arguably the classiest dog in the race and if given luck from box six, may prove hard to catch. Dark Duo is a recent acquisition to South Australia and has been racing well, including a win in a slick 29.85. Sargent Trigga has been flying home in top grade and can make his presence felt again, along with Kenyon Bale from box eight.
Tattsbet.com Adelaide Cup Heat 4
Selections: 1) Gable La Flash 2) Bremerton Bale 3) Big Daddy‘s Gift
Another even heat on paper sees only one foreigner engaged in Bremerton Bale. It was beaten an eyelash on Monday at Cranbourne but gets another chance here from box six. Drawn directly inside in boxes four and five are the speedy locals Gable La Flash and Big Daddy’s Gift. Both are in stellar form and look hard to toss. Cool Hammer has been racing well and comes into calculations and box two is a definite advantage. The veteran Kihael Kofi can never be discounted either.
Tattsbet.com Adelaide Cup Heat 5
Selections: 1) Where’s Fly 2) Cosmic Planet 3) Crystal Scull
Where’s Fly looks the standout here after two excellent wins in December. Having only lost twice from seven attempts at Angle Park with a best of 29.89, he’ll be too good from box two it seems. Cosmic Planet is a Victorian sprinter with plenty of ability, but seems to find a lot of trouble in his races. With a clean run, he looks a certain placegetter and a win wouldn’t surprise. Crystal Scull looks the best of the rest after two successive wins but has drawn awkwardly in five.
Tattsbet.com Adelaide Cup Heat 6
Selections: 1) Kalden Mayhem 2) Salvador Bale 3) Badja Bale
Kalden Mayhem has been slapping his opponents of late and should win by a good margin here. The former West Aussie has drawn well and has been breaking 30 seconds easily and that’s enough to beat these. Both of the Bate runners in Salvador Bale and Badja Bale look each way chances and the former has the advantage of the cherry draw. Cool In Blue is a stalwart of Angle Park and any dog with 21 wins at the track can’t be ignored.
Tattsbet.com Adelaide Cup Heat 7
Selections: 1) Boston Blackie 2) Dyna Forte 3) Isadel
Interstate greyhounds will fight out this heat, starting with the Sydney-sider in Boston Blackie. It had a look at the track last week and whipped his rivals by seven lengths in 29.86. That looks to be a perfect trial for this kind of race. Dyna Forte has a love affair with this circuit after taking out two feature events here, with an impressive 29.63 personal best along the way. Isadel will have to overcome box eight but is as talented as any and should figure prominently. Others with each way claims are Aston Elite, Cool Rock Hero and Kinka Bale.
Tattsbet.com Adelaide Cup Heat 8
Selections: 1) Shaiane Bale 2) Penthouse 3) Point Two Over
Shaiane Bale is the top pick here after solid runs at The Meadows and in a Cranbourne Cup heat on Monday. Drawn box one in a race that may lack genuine early speed will be a big help. Point Two Over is a classy local greyhound who needs room early and box seven will aid that. Penthouse is a speedy hit-or-miss type who’ll be trying to push up behind the leaders and finish off hard. Springvale Coops is a very strong wide-runner but may be giving away a large head start.
Advertiser Interstate Challenge Special Event
Selections: 1) Octane Show 2) Cosmic Chief 3) Symmetry
This is always one of the most entertaining races at Angle Park each year and has a very illustrious honour roll. Octane Show is arguably the most in-form greyhound in Australia (maybe with the exception of El Grand Senor) and looks hard to toss again. The opposition is as tough as any however. Greywinds Doll can beat anyone on her day and will appreciate box two but is slightly out of form. Cosmic Chief ran a great second here in the National Sprint Final and with room early will be looking the winner.
The pick of the locals is obviously Boozeroo who adores Angle Park. She can set the clock alight at times but it’ll be a hard task to cross this lot from box seven. The rest of the field comprises of Tomic, Katcha Kihael, Strictly Mambo and recent Sale Cup winner Symmetry who is definitely in with a chance. It’s sure to be one race to remember…