2013 Melbourne Cup Betting Preview, Odds & Tips

The 57th running of the Melbourne Cup will see eight greyhounds lining up behind the boxes to win the worlds richest race.

The first prizemoney is a staggering $350,000 which will see the winner rocket in to the top 25 stakes winning greyhounds of all time.

The amount of money on offer is certainly creating a good deal of controversy, and has created some interesting scenarios for the sports statisticians.

A Black Magic Opal win would see him placed just outside the top 10 stakes winning greyhounds, while Peter Rocket could instantly become the second highest prize money earning Australian greyhound in history; second only to the mighty Miata.

Bookmakers and learned judges have Black Magic Opal odds on to lead from box 2 and romp to victory, despite almost being run down by Gold Town last week in the heats.

However the prospect of a lightning fast track tonight will help his cause to end the shocking run of favourites in the Melbourne Cup in recent times. 2010 Melbourne Cup winner El Grand Señor is the only greyhound in recent times to have won the race as favourite.

Box 1 Race Odds $3.60 Heat Win	Shifty Sticka		Trainer Paul Anderton	Owner Anthony McVicker	Prizemoney $54,735	Last 10 Starts 2213112111
	23 Month White and Black Dog by Premier Fantasy – Irish Malt Start Fast Running Middle Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $2,881 Rating  94		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 19 11  5  3	Strike Rates Win % Place % 58% 100%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 4 3 1	Box 1 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 1  1
	Comments: Is yet to be unplaced in all of his 19 race starts. Showed excellent strength last week to streak away from the pack and has come up with the favourable box.				Best Sandown Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 29.50 29.54 5.07 5.10

Box 2 Race Odds $1.80 Heat Win	Black Magic Opal		Trainer Jason Thompson	Owner Black Opal Syndicate	Prizemoney $145,185	Last 10 Starts 1714111111
	30 Month Black Dog by Magic Sprite – Awesome Opal Start Fast Running Rail Finish Moderate Prizemoney Rating  $4,537 Rating  100		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 32 25 4 0	Strike Rates Win % Place % 78% 91%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 2	Box 2 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 1
	Comments: Flew out of the six alley last week to blitz the field in best of the night figures. Short-priced favourite to give his trainer a second consecutive Melbourne Cup, however can be steady at the finish.				Best Sandown Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 29.41 29.41 4.90 4.90

Box 3 Race Odds $8.00 Heat Win	Proven Maddy		Trainer Wayne Vassallo	Owner McGrath Syndicate	Prizemoney $121,520	Last 10 Starts 1121831551
	45 Month White and Black Bitch by El Galo – Proven Lilly Start Fast Running Middle Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating  $2,337 Rating  96		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 52 23 8 5	Strike Rates Win % Place % 44% 69%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 14 6 1	Box 3 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 7 3  1
	Comments: Ran a great race last week to qualify in strong time. Has drawn ideally near the rails and has a sizzling personal best at the track. Very capable of claiming this.				Best Sandown Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 29.15 29.43 4.99 5.04

Box 4 Race Odds $10 Heat Win	Kiss Me Ketut		Trainer David Burnett	Owner David Burnett	Prizemoney $109,450	Last 10 Starts 1128253211
	27 Month  Black  Dog by  Bombastic Shiraz –  Sprial Siyan Start Fast Running Wide Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $3,219 Rating  90		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd  34  15  6  5	Strike Rates Win % Place % 44% 76%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd  8  4  1  1	Box 4 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd  5  2  1
	Comments: Will need plenty of luck from this draw. Very capable greyhound who looked good last week running down Xylia Allen in the second slowest of the heats. Hard to see him leading or running anything down in this, but is generally thereabouts. Trifecta hopes only.				Best Sandown Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 29.46 29.57  5.03 5.08

Box 5 Race Odds $13 Heat Win	Hawk Alone		Trainer Andrea Dailly	Owner Mark Rodgers	Prizemoney $98.620	Last 10 Starts 4214321511
	27 Month Black Dog by Westmead Hawk – Glamorous Jade Start Fast Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $2,988 Rating 88		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 33 13 9 4	Strike Rates Win % Place % 39% 79%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 7  4  1  1	Box 5 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 5 2  2
	Comments: Ran right up to his best last week from box 6 to run down early leader What A Good Size. A good chance of pushing forward early from this draw and getting the sit 2nd or 3rd through the first corner. Good enough to place but would need trouble in running to others to win this.				Best Sandown Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 29.38 29.50 5.04 5.05

Box 6 Race Odds $16 Heat Win	Peter Rocket		Trainer Keith Hellmuth	Owner Lisa Hellmuth	Prizemoney $289,505	Last 10 Starts 3121127231
	39 Month Black Dog by Where’s Pedro – Belron Blue Start Fast Running Middle Finish Fair Prizemoney Rating $5,567 Rating 90		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 52 21 7 14	Strike Rates Win % Place % 40% 81%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 15  6  1  6	Box 6 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 5 3  2
	Comments: Written off by most after the box draw, but not not without hopes from out here in box 6. Has a good record from the drawn and likely to get cover from Hawk Alone early to push across. Likes the middle of the track so should get through the first corner okay and is in career best form.				Best Sandown Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 29.43 29.43 5.08 5.10

Box 7 Race Odds $36 Heat Win	Dyna Beth		Trainer Jenny Hunt	Owner Brendon Wheeler	Prizemoney $44,320	Last 10 Starts 2645341411
	25 Month Red Brindle Bitch by Surf Lorian – Marzeena Bale Start Fast Running Rail Finish Fair Prizemoney Rating $2,215 Rating 80		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 20 9 2 1	Strike Rates Win % Place % 42% 60%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 8  4  1	Box 7 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 2
	Comments: Every possible chance last week leading all the way in the slowest of the heats. Very fast early and may be nuisance value for those boxed inside. Excellent Sandown record but cannot run the times needed to win. Great effort to make the final and definitely on a form upswing but not fast enough to win this from out here in box 7.				Best Sandown Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 29.59 29.70 5.01 5.01

Box 8 Race Odds $11 Heat Win	Iona Seven		Trainer Robert Britton	Owner Michelle Sidrak	Prizemoney $72,810	Last 10 Starts 1211145851
	31 Month Black Bitch by Swift Fancy – Iona Habit Start Fast Running Rail Finish Fair Prizemoney Rating $2,141 Rating 88		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 34 12 10 2	Strike Rates Win % Place % 35% 71%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 9  6  1	Box 8 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 5 2  1
	Comments: Did run 29.18 from box 6 here on a “suped up” track 2 months ago and did everything right last week from box 3. Has a terrific Sandown record but hard to see her improving on that record from the outside here where she doesn’t have enough speed to cross the others, but has just enough to make a line of 4 or 5 in to the first corner. Can’t see her getting a clean run.				Best Sandown Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 29.18 29.51 4.99 5.07

It is nearly impossible not see Black Magic Opal leading from the draw, but he has been prone to the odd miscue and stumble at the start of his races, as seen two starts back at Warrnambool. There is no doubting he is one of the fastest greyhounds in training to the first and second sectional marks, but there is no way he can come from behind and win this – there is just too much equal pace around him and he’ll get buried without a trademark brilliant start.

Black Magic Opal did look a little weak in the run to the line last week at his first 500m run for some time, and on a heavier track. He should start fitter this week, and the track is almost guaranteed to be lightning fast, which will make his job easier this week.

Black Magic Opal should lead and win.

If for any reason, Black Magic Opal does not lead, look for Peter Rocket to carve over and take up the running.

Shifty Sticka, who has never missed a place; should finish in the first three regardless how the race plays out, but will need luck to claim the win.

Proven Maddy is the next best.

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10 Comments

Greyhound Racing

12 years ago

Video replays of each finalists heat run now added to form guide

0

Jess Valentine

12 years ago

Glenn Smith

0

Ian Splint Coupe

12 years ago

holy shit Newman, it’s a gang and there wearing colours

0

Peter Walton

12 years ago

go the RED

0

Jennie Burnell

12 years ago

good effort!

0

Greyhound Racing

12 years ago

Video replays of each finalists heat run now added to form guide

0

Jess Valentine

12 years ago

Glenn Smith

0

Ian Splint Coupe

12 years ago

holy shit Newman, it’s a gang and there wearing colours

0

Peter Walton

12 years ago

go the RED

0

Jennie Burnell

12 years ago

good effort!

0