2014 Group Two Richmond Derby Final Preview

Thirlmere trainer Mark Gatt’s runners will make up half the field in tomorrow night’s Group Two Richmond Derby final, putting the polish on four of the eight finalists, with his fastest qualifier Red Road, coming up with the coveted box one.

Gatt’s quartet were all class in each of their respective heats with victories from Ritza Raider in 30.51 and Boyce Road in d a flying 30.38. These added to Red Roads impressive 30.33. Four and a half year old Ritza Ryder secured his place in another group final and will jump from box two.

Fastest qualifier Evil Punk began brilliantly from box five last week to sizzle around the 535m distance in 30.29. Trainer James Coyle will head into the race full of confidence, after his charge came up with box three for the final.

Box 1 Race Odds $2.60 Heat Replay	Red Road		Trainer Mark Gatt	Owner Edwin Kingswell	Prizemoney $34,340	Last 10 Starts 1118181141
	25 Months   Black   Dog   by   Collision – Mystic Pace Start Fast Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $2,452.86 Rating 99		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 14 10 1 0	Strike Rates Win % Place % 71% 79%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 4 3 1 0	Box 1 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 1 0 0
	Comments: Mark Gatt: “Perfectly boxed this week, all he has to do is jump. I was pleased with his performance last week, in particular his run home and he’s drawn the best of my four chances so I just really want him to begin well.”				Best Richmond Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 30.22 30.33 5.13 5.23

Box 2 Race Odds  $7.00 Heat Replay	Ritza Ryder		Trainer Mark Gatt	Owner Mark Gatt	Prizemoney $146,838	Last 10 Starts 5353313132
	52 Months   Red Fawn   Dog   by   Where’s Pedro – Midnight Flare Start Good Running Rail Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $1,932.08 Rating 90		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 76 22 13 18	Strike Rates Win % Place % 29% 70%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 0 1 0	Box 2 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 11 7 1 2
	Comments: Mark Gatt: “This dog is just getting better with age. He went awesome last week running second to Evil Punk in fast time and is perfectly boxed this week. I’m expecting him to go well and he will only need a bit of luck to run a cheeky race.”				Best Richmond Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 30.47 30.47 5.40 5.40

Box 3 Race Odds  $4.20 Heat Replay	Evil Punk		Trainer James Coyle	Owner James Coyle	Prizemoney $55,810	Last 10 Starts 1822212321
	30 Months   Black   Dog   by   Collision – Punk Angel Start Fast Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $1,468.68 Rating 100		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 38 10 9 5	Strike Rates Win % Place % 26% 63%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 6 6 0 0	Box 3 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 0 1 0
	Comments: James Coyle: “I’m stoked with how good he’s going at the moment. He has an unbeaten record at Richmond and I’m expecting him to go well again in this race. His early speed is very important in a race like this and I just hope he can get a clear run and get through the race safely.”				Best Richmond Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 30.29 30.29 5.24 5.24

Box 4  Race Odds  $26.00 Heat Replay	Manyana Groper		Trainer Syd Swain	Owner William Mulligan	Prizemoney $15,945	Last 10 Starts 6144164462
	34 Months   White & Blue Brindle   Dog   by   Knocka Norris – Speedy Cadillac Start Fair Running Middle Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $549.83 Rating 75		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 29 8 3 1	Strike Rates Win % Place % 28% 41%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 0 2 0	Box 4 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 4 1 1 0
	Comments: (Trainer Unavailable): Made up a lot of ground last week from box eight to finish second behind fastest qualifier Red Road in 30.33. Clocked a solid time of 30.65 and despite he’s lack of early speed, this dog really finds the line well and will be doing so again.				Best Richmond Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 30.65 30.65 5.39 5.39

Box 5 Race Odds $6.00 Heat Replay	Boyce Road		Trainer Mark Gatt	Owner Edwin Kingswell	Prizemoney $22,590	Last 10 Starts 1311414551
	25 Months   Black   Dog   by   Collision – Mystic Pace Start Fair Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $1,411.88 Rating 98		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 16 10 0 2	Strike Rates Win % Place % 63% 75%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 6 5 0 1	Box 5 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 1 0 0
	Comments:  Mark Gatt: “He was great last week, showed really good speed to get through a squeeze at the first turn and I was happy with his finish as well. The box I think will suit him and I hope he can get a clear run because he can definitely win this. I would like to see him jump a bit better.”				Best Richmond Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 30.38 30.38 5.32 5.33

Box 6 Race Odds  $13.00 Heat Replay	Romantic Affair		Trainer Mario Abela	Owner M Abela & Ptns	Prizemoney $29,010	Last 10 Starts 5211233532
	43 Months   Black   Dog   by   Bombastic Shiraz – Romantic Diva Start Good Running Middle Good N/A Prizemoney Rating $1,160.40 Rating 80		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 25 10 6 6	Strike Rates Win 40% Place 88%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 8 3 3 1	Box 6 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 0 1 1
	Comments: (Trainer Unavailable): Ran a solid race last week to finish second behind Ritza Raider in 30.51. Still posted a fast time of 30.61, however has drawn awkwardly this week and is surrounded by early speedsters. Can go well with the right run.				Best Richmond Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 30.61 30.61 5.34

Box 7 Race Odds $35.00 Heat Replay	Calamity Trigger		Trainer Michael Eberand	Owner Tony Driver	Prizemoney $8,200	Last 10 Starts 1347342142
	30 Months   Black   Dog   by   Collision – Thousand Kisses Start Fair Running Middle Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $328 Rating 85		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 25 4 6 4	Strike Rates Win % Place % 16% 56%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 0 2 0	Box 7 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 0 0 0
	Comments: Michael Eberand: “He’s improving every week which is pleasing. i was really happy with his performance last week and now he’s just starting to come good. I think he has the pace to run a good race and I’m just really happy to be in a final like this.”				Best Richmond Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 30.59 30.59 5.33 5.33

Box 8 Race Odds $4.50 Heat Replay	Ritza Raider		Trainer Mark Gatt	Owner Mark Gatt	Prizemoney $18,665	Last 10 Starts 1223361231
	28 Months   Red Fawn   Dog   by   Bombastic Shiraz – Midnight Flare Start Moderate Running Wide Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $1,097.94 Rating 90		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 17 7 4 5	Strike Rates Win % Place % 41% 94%	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 5 4 0 1	Box 8 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 3 0 0
	Comments: Mark Gatt: “I was very happy with his run last week. He began terrific from box eight and I’m glad he’s drawn there again, because he seems to like it. Obviously there’s a lot of speed on the inside of him, but with the right run, he can go well.”				Best Richmond Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 30.47 30.51 5.27 5.27

The winner will take home $40,000 for connections, with many of these greyhounds set for the $250,000 Group One Golden Easter Egg series next month at Wentworth Park.

The final will jump at 9.26pm EDST.

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