The Meadows race meeting on Monday night provides a great precursor to the “race that stops a nation”, with two Group finals taking place at the track. The first of those is the Group Three Silver Bullet.
The Silver Bullet is a race for the Best 8 greyhounds nominated. This year’s field is a very even field despite Luca Neveelk being installed as the current $1.60 favourite. The field is littered with Group race winners and includes last year’s winner, Farmor Las Vegas.
Other previous winners of this race include Bombastic Shiraz, Hallucinate, Pure Octane, Go Go Ebo, Shanlyn Prince, Regal Thyme, Turanza Bale, Greywinds Doll, Shereen Bale and Grigorieva Bale.
A tidy sum of $25,000 awaits the winning connections at the conclusion of the race, which is scheduled to jump at 8:51pm.
ARG Comments:The talented Luca Neveelk comes into this freshened off his Group 2Geelong Cup win mid-October. He is drawn well on the inside and has the speed to lead. He will need to lead the field to be a chance as there are plenty of strong chasers in this race.
ARG Comments: Litter brother to recent Topgun winner Buckle Up Wes. Buckle Up Mason has shown he is more than handy with a 29.74 PB to his name at The Meadows. He has been consistent without winning of late. Needs to be up there early to be a chance.
Best The Meadows Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
29.74
30.33
5.05
5.11
Box 3
Race Odds
$15.00
Heat Replay
Musquin Bale
Trainer
Andrea Dailly
Owner
Paul Wheeler
Prizemoney
$159,105
Last 10 Starts
8414853615
43 Months
Red Fawn
Dog
by
Dyna Lachlan
–
Princess Bale
Start
Risky
Running
Rail
Finish
Strong
Prizemoney Rating
$2,486
Rating
92
Career Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
64
18
10
6
Strike Rates
Win %
Place %
28%
53%
Track & Dist.
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
10
4
0
1
Box 3 Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
9
1
1
4
Tom Dailly (Kennel Representative): “Last start he was pretty ordinary but before that he was going well. If he jumps he is a chance as he is quite strong. I hope he gets out and is up amongst the first couple going into the turn.”
Kelly Bravo (Trainer): “It is not the best box as I like him closer to the fence. He is a real trier. There have been lots of race finals he has been in where he shouldn’t have finished where he does as he isn’t the fastest dog. He has good early pace and tries really hard. He is consistent and it would be nice to finish a place.”
ARG Comments: He is the “veteran” of the field but that won’t worry him as his experience should serve him well. The only worry for him is the box draw. He has had 10 starts from box five for just one win. This suggests he will need some luck.
Best The Meadows Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
29.71
30.36
5.10
5.26
Box 6
Race Odds
$20.00
Heat Replay
Dream It
Trainer
Brooke Ennis
Owner
Dream On Dreamer Syndicate
Prizemoney
$110,090
Last 10 Starts
6321713424
37 Months
Brindle
Dog
by
Bartrim Bale
–
Ondina Bale
Start
Risky
Running
Rail
Finish
Strong
Prizemoney Rating
$2,907
Rating
90
Career Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
43
18
5
5
Strike Rates
Win %
Place %
40%
62%
Track & Dist.
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
11
6
0
2
Box 6 Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
2
2
0
0
Jamie Ennis (Kennel Representative): “It is not an ideal draw. He has dogs with similar pace drawn around him and the seven wants the fence so I am just hoping he gets through unscathed and we can freshen him up for the Melbourne Cup heats. It is a hard and even race this final.”
ARG Comments: Had this box when he ran third at the track four runs back to Buckle Up Mason. He has won just once in his last eight starts and may struggle to make things go his way from the draw.
ARG Comments: His last win at The Meadows was in August from box four. He is the least experienced dog in the field so may find it a little tough if he gets a start.
ARG Comments: Ollie Bale has been in his fair share of Group finals during his career. He is a last start winner at Sandown and has won five from 17 at The Meadows. He can never be underestimated but if he gets a start he would be better off drawing close to the fence.
Best The Meadows Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
29.84
30.39
5.07
5.21
There’s plenty of live chances in this race and a lot will depend on where each dog is positioned at the first turn. The likely leaders look to be Luca Neveelk (1) and Top Secret (3). Buckle Up Mason (2) and Musquin Bale (3) are capable of leading on occasion and it wouldn’t surprise if Musquin Bale is in a handy position early. If he is, this will spell danger for Luca Neveelk and Top Secret as Musquin Bale is a strong finisher.
Farmor Las Vegas (5) knows what it takes to win this race after winning the 2013 Silver Bullet, but he is not drawn to repeat that effort. Dream It (6) has a perfect record from box six but is expected to find some interference in the form of Marcus Joe (7) in the early stages. Marcus Joe is handy on his day but he has not been able to put the runs on the board recently.
The relative unknown is Keybow (8). We all know what he is capable of but this is just his second run back from a spell. He should be fitter for the run last week and if he can replicate his fastest run at The Meadows (which came from the wide draw) he will be hard to contain.
All in all, it will be a highly competitive race and one worth watching.