All Spritzed Up stands out in 2022 Group 3 Great Chase final
Master Victorian greyhound trainer Jeff Britton qualified three greyhounds for this year's Group 3 Great Chase final at The Meadows this Wednesday, but the Anthony Azzopardi-trained All Spritzed Up looks to have a stranglehold on the race after his 29.78 semi final win.
The blue son of Ritza Lenny and All Dolled Up, who has been to the track just nine times for six wins and two seconds; used his box one semi final draw to advantage to lead throughout the 525m distance in 5.12, 29.78. That run gives All Spritzed Up a 0.37 second advantage over the rest of the $47,000 to-the-winner final field.
Having started his early career over the middle distances, All Spritzed Up will be very strong to the line in Wednesday's 525m final, but if there is a slight risk to his chances it will be getting track position from box three against a field that contains three greyhounds that can all run at least one length quicker to the post the first time.
Mepunga Raider for Jeff Britton ran on from back third in the field early to finish second 5.34 lengths away in 30.16 (5.23) and become the second fastest qualifier for this week's final, and the first of Britton's potential three-pronged attack on the race if they all start.
Mepunga Raider, who has experience on his side having been to the track 16 times for five wins and three placings; was held up multiple times in the run while trying to push forward on the rail. He can emerge as a real threat in the final based on his personal best times of 5.15 and 29.90, and draws box four in the big race directly outside All Spritzed Up.
2022 Great Chase Semi Final 3 – All Spritzed Up (29.78) Trainer: Anthony Azzopardi
Elite Alex maintained his unbeaten record recording his fourth win from four starts for trainer Mark Delbridge when taking out the last of the six Great Chase semi finals in 30.25.
Starting from box four Elite Alex wasn't the best to begin from the boxes but mustered quickly to race up outside Fairtrade Marjen and won the race to the winning post the first time in 5.04, which was the second quickest first section of any of the Great Chase finalists..
Having his first start at The Meadows over the 525m, Elite Alex had to cut down on Fiartrade Marjen on the first corner to take a clear lead but cost himself several lengths in the process. That interference allowed the Jeff Britton-trained Blazin' Master to get within striking distance down the back straight.
Blazin' Master, who has had 19 starts; absolutely served it up to the four start youngster in the run to the line and the effort from Elite Alex to keep grinding out the win belied his inexperience, beating Blazin' Master (30.26) by just 0.2 of a length.
After the event Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) stewards charged Blazin' Master with marring Elite Alex in the home straight and stood the greyhound down for 28 days at The Meadows. Unless trainer Jeff Britton appeals the charge, Blazin' Master will need to perform a satisfactory trial to take his place in the final, making him an unlikely starter.
Elite Alex, who will definitely improve on his first up run at The Meadows, moves to box six for the final; while if he starts, Blazin' Master – (5.25 first section) gets an uncomfortable draw inside Elie Alex in box five, and directly outside All Spritzed Up in box four.
2022 Great Chase Semi Final 6 – Elite Alex (30.25) Trainer: Mark Delbridge
The Harry Manolitsis-trained Madigan became the fifth fastest qualifier for the Group 3 final winning the second Great Chase semi final as favourite, coming from second in the run behind early leader Blue Tungsten in 30.31, running a 5.18 first section from box two.
Madigan's win was better than it will look on paper as he made a complete mess of getting around the early leader, running straight in to the back of it and costing himself several lengths in the process. As the interference happened late in the race, the effort to rebalance and get going again and sprint to the line was full of merit.
There is no doubt that based off that run, Madigan with a previous best of 30.06 is capable of breaking the 30 second barrier at The Meadows; but has to contend with the move to box eight for the final which will be problematic for a greyhound who can only run 5.18 early.
The John Galea-trained Oakley's Boy railed up underneath Blue Tungsten as Madigan made his final run to the line, and finished second in 30.44 beaten 1.75 lengths.
Oakley's Boy, who has had 10 starts for four wins and four seconds; is a likely starter as first reserve for the final if Blazin' Master comes out of the field. He would need to improve greatly though on his 5.28 semi final first section and 30.19 personal best at the track to be a realistic threat for the Group 3 title.
2022 Great Chase Semi Final 2 – Madigan (30.31) Trainer: Harry Manolitsis
Great Chase semi final one was won by the Vicki Wisener-trained Like An Arrow who found the winning post in-front in 30.41.
Starting from box four and having his first start at The Meadows, Like An Arrow ran the quickest first section of the 2022 Great Chase finalists with a 5.02 early sprint, but got led around the first corner by Dundee Smokey as he just felt his away around the bend for the first time.
With the aide of the rail and some clear air the son of Bernando and Cindeen Jates was able find the confidence to power home along the rail and wear down Dundee Smokey to win by 0.67 of a length.
The winner of seven of his 12 career starts, and the fastest greyhound early in the final gets the advantage of box two on Wednesday and will certainly be improved for his first look at the Broadmeadows circuit.
2022 Great Chase Semi Final 1 – Like An Arrow (30.41) Trainer: Vicki Wisener
Lady Lily Hook will be the only bitch vying for this year's Great Chase title after she won semi final four from box five in 30.55 for greyhound trainer Robert Neocleous.
Much like semi final one winner Like An Arrow, Lady Lily Hook was having her first start at The Meadows and set her race up with the finalist's third fastest first section of 5.10, but just felt her way around the first corner getting caught three and four wide in the run to the back straight.
The daughter of My Redeemer and Ruby's Image who has won seven of her 15 starts with five seconds, put up a herculean effort to race three wide for the journey from the back straight, got galloped on when entering the home straight, and still found a way to win albeit in slow time.
Getting stuck wide in the back straight at The Meadows is usually an obstacle very few greyhounds can overcome and win, so the run is much better than it appears. There is absolutely no doubt Lady Lily Hook will improve upon that run greatly and has come up with box one in the final on Wednesday which should see her much quicker than 5.10 in the run to the post the first time.
2022 Great Chase Semi Final 4 – Lady Lily Hook (30.55) Trainer: Robert Neocleous
Jeff Britton'S final runner in the 2022 Great Chase final is Westar Commander who took out semi final five in a very slow 30.90.
Westar Commander has had just six starts for four wins and two seconds, with all five of his other runs at Warrnambool.
After beginning well from box four the son of Mepunga Blazer and Eyes Adorable looked like he was going to put the race away early with a handy 5.12 first section that put him in position to drive to the lead.
Having his first start at The Meadows, the young dog didn't seem to go on with it at different stages of the race after that, and seemed content to run with the other greyhounds for the rest of the trip. At the finish line Westar Commander was still in-front but the the slow time tells the tale of the race.
Westar Commander has drawn box seven for the final, outside all the early speed in the race and while he will no doubt improve on his first run at the track, he would need to show a lot more in-race commitment to feature among the placings on Wednesday.
2022 Great Chase Semi Final 5 – Westar Commander (30.90) Trainer: Jeff Britton
The box draw for the 2022 Great Chase final was performed after the semi finals with the six winners and fastest seconds making up the field. The final will be held on Wednesday afternoon at The Meadows over 525m with $47,000 going to winning connections.
Unless Jeff Britton appeals the marring charge, and there being no other scratchings; Blazin' Master will be scratched and Oakley's Boy will start from box five.
2022 Group 3 Great Chase Final
2022 Great Chase Final Field Box DrawThe Meadows525m$47,000 to-the-winnerGroup 3
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1 Lady Lily Hook
T: Robert NeocleousF: 1411Career: 15: 7-5-0
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2 Like An Arrow
T: Vickie WisenerF: 1811Career: 12: 7-0-0
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3 All Spritzed Up
T: Anthony AzzopardiF: 1121Career: 9: 6-2-0
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4 Mepunga Raider
T: Jeff BrittonF: 6542Career: 16: 5-2-1
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5 Blazin' Master
T: Jeff BrittonF: 3222Career: 19: 4-6-2
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6 Elite Alex
T: Mark DelbridgeF: 1111Career: 4: 4-0-0
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7 Westar Commander
T: Jeff BrittonF: 1121Career: 6: 4-2-0
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8 Madigan
T: Harry ManolitsisF: 5121Career: 18: 6-5-1
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| Reserves | |
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9 Oakley's Boy
T: John GaleaF: 1722Career: 10: 4-4-0
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10 Dundee Snokey
T: Geoff Scott-SmithF: 6412Career: 9: 4-2-1
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