2015 Group Two Warragul Cup final preview

FIRST run in 1956, the Warragul Cup has been won by some true champions.

Names such as Tempix, Chariot Supreme, Hotshot, Carlisle Jack and El Grand Señor are on the honour roll and on Friday night another star will carve its name alongside the greats.


This year’s edition is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting affair with a talented field chasing the $45,000 winner’s cheque. 



The clear favourite is Luca Neveelk (box one), which scored a gutsy win in his heat last week when defeating the classy Big Ticket (five), a finalist in December’s Hobart Thousand. Both chasers are right in the race, however, Luca Neveelk has been greatly assisted by drawing box one. 



The race looks to have plenty of speed with Jubilea Bale (box two), Narralee and Ronray Spirit (eight) all capable of challenging Luca Neveelk and Big Ticket for the early lead. 



Despite not being a lid-pinger, Ride The Rails also looks a massive chance after his scintillating 25.49 heat win for trainer Kelly Bravo. The black dog has a massive motor and will just need a bit of clear room early to be able to put himself in the race.



Let’s have a look at each runner individually and hear what Australian Racing Greyhound’s expert tipster, Brad Bugeja, had to say.

Box 1 Race Odds $2.30	Luca Neveelk		Trainer Gerald Kleeven	Owner Paul Kleeven	Prizemoney $210,365	Last 10 Starts 1131811121
	May 2012   Blue   Dog   by   Talk’s Cheap – It’s A Neveelk Start Excellent Running Rail Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $6,574 Rating 100		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 32 25 1 3	Strike Rates Win % Place % 78 91	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 3 0 0	Box 1 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 5 3 0 2
	ARG’s Brad Bugeja: “Class act and already a multiple Country Cup winner. Last week he was fair to begin but he showed a great turn of foot to assume control. He appeared to get a little tired in the run home but he should have derived a lot of benefit from that run and I would expect him to hit the line better here. He is drawn to lead and if he does hold them out I can’t see anything reeling him in.”				Best Warragul Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.71 25.71 6.47 6.47

Box 2 Race Odds $26	Jubilea Bale		Trainer Jenny Hunt	Owner Paul Wheeler	Prizemoney $33,101	Last 10 Starts 1421342221
	May 2012   Black   Bitch   by   Collision – Nelly Bale Start Good Running Middle Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $788 Rating 40		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 42 14 7 4	Strike Rates Win % Place % 33 60	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 2 0 0	Box 2 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 1 0 1
	ARG’s Brad Bugeja: “Surprised a few with her heat win last week and she is likely to find this beyond her. She does her best racing when she can lead and I don’t think she has enough pace to cross the red. This is a big rise in class and I can’t see her hitting the scoreboard.”				Best Warragul Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.79 25.79 6.46 6.46

Box 3 Race Odds $2.90 Heat Replay	Caustic Bale		Trainer Steve Collins	Owner Paul Wheeler	Prizemoney $16,440	Last 10 Starts 3511173411
	December 2012   Brindle   Dog   by   Batrim Bale – Tonneli Bale Start Moderate Running Rail Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $913 Rating 85		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 18 8 2 2	Strike Rates Win % Place % 44 67	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 2 0 0	Box 3 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 2 0 0
	ARG’s Brad Bugeja: “Freakish talent who has tremendous pace when he is given room. He used the red draw to advantage when winning his heat in a dazzling 25.58 and if given a clean run early he becomes a major player. The big concern with him is he doesn’t have great box manners and he doesn’t like to be crowded in his races. I’d prefer to risk him here as he doesn’t look well placed.”				Best Warragul Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.58 25.58 6.53 6.53

Box 4 Race Odds $3.80	Ride The Rails		Trainer Kelly Bravo	Owner Nadine Brown	Prizemoney $125,830	Last 10 Starts 2631123111
	October 2011   Black   Dog   by   Cosmic Chief – Pearl Napoleon Start Risky Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $2,374 Rating 90		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 53 20 14 7	Strike Rates Win % Place % 38 77	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 1 0 0	Box 4 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 9 6 2 0
	ARG’s Brad Bugeja: “Fastest heat winner here last week in 25.49 and if he pings the lids again he will really test Luca Neveelk. There is no doubting his talent and high speed but he normally doesn’t begin like that and with just a fair getaway he may get squeezed out early. He is obviously a great winning chance but he is going to need some luck in the first 50m.”				Best Warragul Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.49 25.49 6.53 6.53

Box 5 Race Odds $18	Big Ticket		Trainer Steven Clarke	Owner Pat Sofra	Prizemoney $31,090	Last 10 Starts 2151511412
	December 2012   Black   Dog   by   Fabregas – Bella Portrait Start Good Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $1,943 Rating 80		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 16 9 3 1	Strike Rates Win % Place % 56 81	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 4 2 2 0	Box 5 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 1 0 0
	ARG’s Brad Bugeja: “Appeared to have Luca Neveelk beaten in his heat but just seemed to die on his run in the last 30m. The box draw hasn’t done him any favours because like Caustic Bale and Ride The Rails, he isn’t a great box dog and he takes a few strides to get going, however, unlike the other two he has been put up at $15+ fixed and that is massive overs. He started equal favourite in the Hobart Thousand final and one out he is just as talented as any chaser in this event. He isn’t my top pick but at that price I’m willing to take a chance.”				Best Warragul Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.69 25.72 6.45 6.51

Box 6 Race Odds $10 Heat Replay	Sisco Rage		Trainer John Galea	Owner John Galea	Prizemoney $116,155	Last 10 Starts 2333131112
	February 2012   Black   Dog   by   High Earner – Sisco Power Start Moderate Running Rail Finish Strong Prizemoney Rating $1,613 Rating 80		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 72 20 11 13	Strike Rates Win % Place % 28 61	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 0 1 0	Box 6 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 6 2 0 1
	ARG’s Brad Bugeja: “Is one of the hottest chasers in training and his heat effort was enormous. After beginning slowly he worked his way through the field and he was taking a heap of ground off Caustic Bale in the run home. I don’t think he can win but he is a must for your exotics as he will be hitting the line very hard.”				Best Warragul Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.65 25.65 6.64 6.64

Box 7 Race Odds $26	Narralee		Trainer Stephen Creighton	Owner Mother & Sons Syndicate	Prizemoney $13,225	Last 10 Starts 1135211151
	January 2013   Black   Bitch   by Aston Galilee   – Prince’s Faye Start Good Running Rail Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $1,102 Rating 60		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 12 7 1 1	Strike Rates Win % Place % 58 75	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 2 2 0 0	Box 7 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 0 0 1
	ARG’s Brad Bugeja: “Absolutely faultless beginner and her early sectionals are good enough to match any chaser in this event. I don’t think she has the class to hold them off in the run home but if she crosses the red early she may be able to sneak away mid race. I dont think she will win but she is over the odds and her early speed could cause some mayhem in this race.”				Best Warragul Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.74 25.74 6.43 6.43

Box 8 Race Odds $12	Ronray Spirit		Trainer Terrence Reid	Owner Irena Steele	Prizemoney $14,645	Last 10 Starts 7311151111
	December 2012   Black   Dog   by   Cosmic Rumble – Ronray Disco Start Good Running Rail Finish Fair Prizemoney Rating $976 Rating 85		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 15 10 0 2	Strike Rates Win % Place % 67 80	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 1 0 0	Box 8 Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 4 2 0 2
	ARG’s Brad Bugeja: “He is an exciting talent and he is my smokey for the final. He is drawn to get a nice cart across in the early stages from Narralee and he looked impressive when scoring in 25.67 here last week. Two starts back he flew around Ballarat in 24.94 and after having his first look at the track here last week he should have derived a lot of benefit from that run. He could be around the $16 mark for the final and that is over the odds.”				Best Warragul Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.67 25.67 6.46 6.46

1st Res Race Odds $26	Alex’s Entity		Trainer Kel Greenough	Owner Maureen Barry	Prizemoney $33,965	Last 10 Starts 1131111412
	May 2012   Black and White   Dog   by Vee Man Vane   – Girl Aloud Start Risky Running Middle Good Strong Prizemoney Rating $2,123 Rating 65		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 16 9 2 2	Strike Rates Win % Place % 56 81	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 3 2 1 0	Box – Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd – – – –
	ARG’s Brad Bugeja: “Class type who has won two of three here and his placing in the heat was impressive. If he could draw the red or pink he would have a great chance because that would allow him to drive through into a prominent position. He is unlikely to gain a run but he would have claims if he did start.”				Best Warragul Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.72 25.72 6.54 6.64

2nd Res Race Odds $26	Droopys Bentley		Trainer Thomas O’Donovan	Owner Michael Dunphy	Prizemoney $18,460	Last 10 Starts 1381262142
	June 2012   Black and White   Dog   by   Westmead Hawk – Droopys Orleans Start Moderate Running Rail Finish Good Prizemoney Rating $1,420 Rating 80		Career Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 13 6 3 1	Strike Rates Win % Place % 46 77	Track & Dist. Starts 1st 2nd 3rd 1 0 1 0	Box – Record Starts 1st 2nd 3rd – – – –
	ARG’s Brad Bugeja: “Super talent who hit the line well in his heat, he is still learning the caper but in the future he is going to be a major player in Group race events. Unlikely to start but like Alex’s Entity he would have some claims if he gained a start.”				Best Warragul Times Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last 25.72 25.72 6.66 6.66

Top Four: 1 – 8 – 5 – 4

Suggested bets:

Win bets on Luca Neveelk and Ronray Spirit (obviously more on Luca Neveelk)

Quinella: 1 to rove with 4,5,8 ($3 for 100%)

Exacta: 1,5,8/1,4,5,8 ($9 for 100%)

Trifecta: 1/4,5,8/Field ($18 for 100%)

Trifecta: 1,5,8/1,4,5,8/1,4,5,6,7,8 ($36 for 100%)

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