2014 Group Three Silver Bullet Preview

The Meadows race meeting on Monday night provides a great precursor to the “race that stops a nation”, with two 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 , 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 at the conclusion of the race, which is scheduled to jump at 8:51pm.

Here's a look at the final field and each dog's chances – Prices are courtesy of Sportingbet and their fixed odds market:

Box 1
Race Odds
$1.65
Heat Replay
Luca Neveelk
Trainer
Gerald Kleeven
Owner
Gerald Kleeven
Prizemoney
$112,865
Last 10 Starts
4111131111
30 Months Blue Dog by Talk's Cheap It's A Neveelk
Start Excellent Running Rail Finish Good
Prizemoney Rating $4,502 Rating 100
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
25 21 0 2
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
84% 92%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 1 0 0
Box 1 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
3 2 0 1
ARG Comments:The talented Luca Neveelk comes into this freshened off his Group 2 Geelong 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.
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
30.15 30.55 5.09 5.23
Box 2
Race Odds
$8.50
Heat Replay
Buckle Up Mason
Trainer
Jenny Hunt
Owner
Robyn Johnson
Prizemoney
$150,215
Last 10 Starts
2331272323
41 Months Blue Dog by
Start Risky Running Rail Finish Good
Prizemoney Rating $1,746 Rating 92
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
86 25 18 13
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
29% 65%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
37 14 7 3
Box 2 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
12 4 3 2
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
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.”
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.90 30.44 5.04 5.10
Box 4
Race Odds
$7.00
Heat Replay
Top Secret
Trainer
Kelly Bravo
Owner
Paul Westerveld
Prizemoney
$85,285
Last 10 Starts
1237111221
32 Months Black Dog by Bartrim Bale Witch Fantasy
Start Excellent Running Rail Finish Good
Prizemoney Rating $2,305 Rating 95
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
37 11 31 5
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
30% 78%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
6 1 2 0
Box 4 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
5 0 1 1
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.”
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
30.11 30.45 5.08 5.10
Box 5
Race Odds
$15.00
Heat Replay
Farmor Las Vegas
Trainer
Robert Britton
Owner
Wayne Scott
Prizemoney
$194,800
Last 10 Starts
2115461243
45 Months Black Dog by Knocka Norris Farmor Cee You
Start Risky Running Rail Finish Good
Prizemoney Rating $2,907 Rating 90
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
67 26 17 5
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
38% 72%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
13 5 2 0
Box 5 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
10 1 2 2
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.”
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.84 30.47 5.11 5.17
Box 7
Race Odds
$7.50
Heat Replay
Marcus Joe
Trainer
Barry Moloney
Owner
Barry Moloney
Prizemoney
$222,130
Last 10 Starts
1722153224
43 Months Brindlle Dog by Velocette Mojo Glory
Start Risky Running Middle Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $4,191 Rating 94
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
53 16 12 11
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
30% 64%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
17 7 5 1
Box 7 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
11 2 2 3
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.
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.66 30.23 4.96 5.12
Box 8
Race Odds
$4.60
Heat Replay
Trainer
Owner
Kelvin Lean
Prizemoney
$306,635
Last 10 Starts
1224141536
35 Months Black Dog by Key Exit
Start Risky Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $9,291 Rating 91
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
33 14 7 3
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
42% 72%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
33 14 7 3
Box 8 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
4 2 0 0
Darren McDonald (Trainer): “He will benefit from the run in the Topgun. He is right to go but there's others in race that will be hard to beat.”
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.58 30.32 5.03 5.32
1st Res
Race Odds
$21.00
Heart Replay
Dyna Alchemist
Trainer
Steven Collins
Owner
Brendan Wheeler
Prizemoney
$34,730
Last 10 Starts
5111242145
28 Months Black Dog by Superman Talia Bale
Start Risky Running Middle Finish Good
Prizemoney Rating $1,736 Rating 92
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
20 6 7 2
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
30% 65%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
6 2 1 1
Box Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
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.
Best The Meadows Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
30.01 30.23 5.07 5.16
2nd Res
Race Odds
$21.00
Heat Replay
Ollie Bale
Trainer
Andrea Dailly
Owner
Paul Wheeler
Prizemoney
$193,490
Last 10 Starts
7251533751
37 Months Black Bitch by Go Wild Teddy Zambola Bale
Start Risky Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $3,120 Rating 89
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
62 15 10 8
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
24% 53%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
17 5 3 1
Box Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
ARG Comments: Ollie Bale has been in his fair share of Group finals during his career. He is a last start winner at 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.

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