2014 Group Two Ballarat Cup Final Preview

The Group Two Ballarat Cup will be the main feature race around the nation tomorrow night and will see a blend of consistent old campaigners up against the rising young pups of the sport.

There is also an interesting mix of speed, pace and strength in the race which should ensure a fantastic final where one greyhound will earn $60,000 for approximately 25 seconds of chasing.

The race will jump at 8:41pm VIC time, lets have a look at each of the runners and hear what their trainers have to say about their chances.

Box 1 Race Odds $2.15 Heat Replay	Luca Neveelk		Trainer Gerald Kleeven	Owner Paul Kleeven	Prizemoney $133,865	Last 10 Starts 1311113181
	May 2012   Blue   Dog   by   Talk’s Cheap – It’s A Neveelk Start Excellent Running Rail Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $4,616 Rating 98		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 29 23 0 3	Strike Rates Win % Place % 79% 90%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 1 0 0	Box 1 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 4 2 0 2
	Gerald Kleeven (Trainer) – If he can jump with them and get a clear run for a couple of strides he should be right. He will need to do everything right  because there are seven others that have run quicker times than him but with that being said he hadn’t been to the track until last week. It will be a very good race, I think whoever gets the breaks will win it.				Best Ballarat Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.47 25.47 6.51 6.51

Box 2 Race Odds  $11 Heat Replay	Ultima Bale		Trainer Steve Collins	Owner Paul Wheeler	Prizemoney $16,090	Last 10 Starts 1211314131
	December 2012   Brindle   Dog   by   Radley Bale – Shaiane Bale Start Moderate Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $1,462 Rating 93		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 11 6 1 2	Strike Rates Win % Place % 55% 82%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 3 0 0	Box 2 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 0 1 0
	Steve Collins (Trainer) – He is only a young dog and he is still learning about the whole racing caper, but if they give him a bit of room in the early stages they will have to look out for him in the last one hundred metres. The draw suits him, being a young dog you can’t go around dogs of this calibre, so I am happy with the draw. I think (Luca Neveelk) is boxed to lead and I think our only hope is to be sitting just behind him turning for home.				Best Ballarat Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.22 25.37 6.59 6.65

Box 3 Race Odds $20  Heat Replay	Blue Giant		Trainer Peter Akathiotis	Owner Peter Akathiotis	Prizemoney $43,975	Last 10 Starts 2118514231
	July 2011   Blue   Dog   by   Knocka Norris – Aussie Nicky Start Slow Running Middle Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $936 Rating 80		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 47 13 3 9	Strike Rates Win % Place % 28% 53%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 2 0 0	Box 3 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 5 1 1 0
	Peter Akathiotis (Trainer) – He went very well in his heat. He is a strong finisher and he did what he had to do after getting in trouble. I was hoping for boxes one, two or three so I am quite happy. Hopefully he can get a sit behind a couple of the quick beginners and make his run in the home straight.				Best Ballarat Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.33 25.33 6.61 6.76

Box 4 Race Odds $4.00 Heat Replay	Allen Deed		Trainer Andrea Dailly	Owner Jan Wheeler	Prizemoney $192,860	Last 10 Starts 1162154761
	December 2011   Black   Dog   by   Jarvis Bale – Greta Bale Start Slow Running Middle Finish Very Strong Prizemoney Rating $4,018 Rating 89		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 48 18 10 1	Strike Rates Win % Place % 38% 60%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 1 0 0	Box 4 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 5 2 1 0
	George Dailly (Co-Trainer) – He got out well in his heat and I was happy because he can really run, he just needs a bit of room early. He is a very, very fast dog, he could win any race in Australia but he has to get a clear run early, if he doesn’t get it that will be the end of him.				Best Ballarat Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.06 25.06 6.62 6.62

Box 5 Race Odds $23  Heat Replay	Musquin Bale		Trainer Andrea Dailly	Owner Paul Wheeler	Prizemoney $166,355	Last 10 Starts 38154431
	April 2011   Red Fawn   Dog   by   Dyna Lachlan – Princess Bale Start Risky Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $2,446 Rating 88		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 68 19 10 7	Strike Rates Win % Place % 28% 53%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 4 2 1 0	Box 5 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 1 1 0
	George Dailly (Co-Trainer) – He is a very strong dog. He is a bit like Allen Deed in that he can jump well once in a blue moon. If he was to get out and be close to them turning for home he is quite capable of winning it because he is strong.				Best Ballarat Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.24 25.42 6.62 6.62

Box 6 Race Odds $8.50 Heat Replay	Marcus Joe		Trainer Barry Moloney	Owner Barry Moloney	Prizemoney $239,530	Last 10 Starts 1511737371
	April 2011   Brindle   Dog   by   Velocette – Mojo Glory Start Moderate Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $4,277 Rating 91		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 56 17 13 6	Strike Rates Win % Place % 30% 64%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 7 2 3 0	Box 6 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 6 2 1 2
	Barry Moloney (Trainer) – He is a good honest dog and he just keeps battling on. You have got to take what you get with box draws but I think he is better in box six than closer to the rails, I am optimistic about the whole thing, but he has still got to get out. We are happy enough, he is jumping around and ready to go.				Best Ballarat Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.34 25.34 6.64 6.64

Box 7 Race Odds $8.50 Heat Replay	Agent Jack		Trainer Steve McKenna	Owner Forte Alcock Syndicate	Prizemoney $30,475	Last 10 Starts 18165161
	April 2012   Black   Dog   by   Bekim Bale – Flowering Lily Start Risky Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $1,523 Rating 90		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 20 11 1 1	Strike Rates Win % Place % 55% 70%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 1 0 0	Box 7 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 0 0 0
	Steve McKenna (Trainer) – He is not a very quick beginner. I am hoping the eight will cut across to the fence and that he will be left alone out wide. If it all goes well I think he will stay out there and if he gets a good run I think he will give it a good shake. I think he is one of the strongest dogs in the race, his run home times over 450 are unbelievable. The other dogs won’t want him two or three lengths off them swinging for home.				Best Ballarat Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.14 25.14 6.73 6.73

Box 8 Race Odds $6.00 Heat Replay	Secret Spell		Trainer Kelly Bravo	Owner Paul Westerveld	Prizemoney $75,900	Last 10 Starts 1211181
	January 2013   Black   Bitch   by   Batrim Bale – Wicked Witch Start Excellent Running  Rail Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $7,590 Rating 100		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 10 8 1 0	Strike Rates Win % Place % 80% 90%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 1 0 0	Box 8 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 2 0 0
	Kelly Bravo (Trainer) – I think she is well drawn. She likes to be off the track a little bit and she can dictate things a bit better out there, if she could run a place we would be wrapped because she is only a young girl.				Best Ballarat Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.35 25.35 6.53 6.53

1st Res Race Odds $11 Heart Replay	Quarrel Bale		Trainer Steve Collins	Owner Paul Wheeler	Prizemoney $15,055	Last 10 Starts 12112612
	December 2012   Brindle   Dog   by   Radley Bale – Shaiane Bale Start Slow  Running Rail  Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $1,255  Rating  87		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 12 6 3 0	Strike Rates Win % Place % 50% 75%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 1 2 0	Box Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd – – – –
	Steve Collins (Trainer) – There is nothing between him and his brother (Ultima Bale) except that Quarrel Bale does begin a little bit better. They are both strong dogs and they have the same racing pattern. They are both looking like being really good race dogs.				Best Ballarat Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.43 – 6.63 6.63

2nd Res Race Odds $17 Heat Replay	El Grand Seal		Trainer Jeff Britton	Owner Patchers Syndicate	Prizemoney $52,710	Last 10 Starts 1341371612
	January 2012   Fawn   Bitch   by   El Grand Senor – Sealin’ The Deal Start Excellent Running Rail  Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $1,647  Rating 90		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 32 15 7 2	Strike Rates Win % Place % 47% 75%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 5 2 2 0	Box Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd – – – –
	ARG Comments: Speedy front runner which is capable of bouncing straight on the bunny from any box. She could easily claim the lead and pinch a break if she were to gain a start.				Best Ballarat Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.24 – 6.51 6.51

Alled Deed (4) is obviously the proven class performer but, although he jumped much better than he usually does last week, he was still about one tenth off the first splits set by both Luca Neveelk (1) and Secret Spell (8).



If Allen Deed gets clear room early he will be too good for them all but it is a big ‘if’ given the fact that he is drawn in box four. One thing working in his favour is that most of the dogs around him are not overly quick early either so he just needs to begin with them to be in with a chance. However, I am going to be bold and risk him.



Secret Spell is one of the most exciting pups in the state and she faces a massive test here tonight, but there isn’t much speed on her inside and I think she should be able to handle herself well from the pink. She won her heat in 25.35 at what was her first start at Ballarat, expect to see plenty of improvement from her. She has great early speed and she is a winner over 500 so she will have no trouble running out the trip. 



Luca Neveelk only clocked 25.47 in winning his heat, but that was his first look at the track. From box one he is perfectly suited to bounce on the bunny. He is well suited over the trip and he should run it out strongly. 



Ultima Bale (2) is highly talented but is another not blessed with early toe and will need luck in the early stages. He is strong to the line so will be hoping to get a sit right behind Luca Neveelk.



Marcus Joe (6) is a group one winner and always races competitively at this level, he can never be discounted.



Agent Jack (7) finished his race of strongly last week and is probably boxed where he wants to be.



Tips: 

8 -1 – 2 – 6


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