Healesville plays host to the world’s richest straight track race this Sunday when the final of the 2014 Group Two Healesville Cup takes place.
Two kennels will make up half of the field this year, with Brooke Ennis (Beejay The Deejay and Size Does Matter) and Jeff Britton (El Grand Seal and Cosmic Wise) both rugging up a pair of greyhounds.
$45,000 awaits the winning connections of the 350 metre scamper that will take around 19 seconds to complete.
Size Does Matter is set to start a short priced favourite, but the box draw may well have made the race more open than it seems.
Here is a look at the 2014 field in detail with comments from connections;
Comments: ARG opinion is – Has won two from four up the straight and ran a handy 19.06 in his heat win. He will need to leave the boxes well to be a winning hope but is a smokey at double figure odds.
Comments: ARG opinion is – Impressed at massive odds in his heat win running 19.07. Is often only moderately away from the boxes and may find himself in trouble as a result. He appears to be a rough place prospect at best.
Comments: ARG opinion is – Ran a slick 19.03 heat win from box one where he stuck to the rails like glue. He loves the track and is not the worst at massive odds.
Comments: Jamie Ennis (Kennel Representative) – “He is a really high-speed dog. He is probably only ever going to be a country cups type of greyhound, I don’t think he will do anything spectacular over 500 metres or more but to be doing what he is at his age is just terrific.”
Comments: Matt Lanigan (Owner) – “It is a very hot field, Size Does Matter crashed hard to the rail in his quickest heat win last week so that is a worry for us. If we can jump well enough and avoid trouble he will be right in it at the finish, he loves the Healesville track.”
Comments: Jamie Ennis (Kennel Representative) – “I originally bought him as more of a 500 metre Group type dog but I have just been keeping him fresh and running him over the sprints. He is loving it and really wants to be there right now. He is coming out of the boxes and I even said to Reggie Kay that it is what had been his biggest problem early in his career, but he seems to be improving now. I wouldn’t swap him for any other dog in the final but if anything is going to beat him, it will be having to get across from box six.”
Comments: Angela Langton (Kennel Representative) – “She looks boxed well considering the way the six crashed last week, we just hope she can come out well and use the box.”
Comments: Angela Langton (Kennel Representative) – “She probably wants the fence, that whole litter tend to prefer the rails. She is a good little straight track dog, we have a straight at home and she loves it, she will be running on, I just hope she stays away from our other one.”
Comments: A genuine Group performer and straight track flyer who could easily win this final if he happens to get a gig.
Best Healesville Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
18.82
19.16
6.57
6.65
Size Does Matter (6) looks to have the race at his mercy if he can begin like last week and get a clear run to the rail. The danger is where he will find himself should he be away a little tardily.
Beejay The Deejay (4) has terrific speed and is another who will look for the fence. If he gets there he will be looking to hang on late as the fast finishers set out after him.
El Grand Seal (7) may be given some room early and has her share of early toe.
Call Me Hank (3) is at massive odds and has a penchant for the track.
Zambora Storm (5) is another who loves the track and will be charging home at the business end of proceedings.
