Aston Rupee, Typhoon Sammy draw well in Australia Cup heats
The Australia Cup heats have been drawn with 56 greyhounds getting their chance to prove to the world they have got what it takes to be etched into the history books when they race at The Meadows on Saturday night.
The eight winners will get their chance a week later in the Australia Cup.
The boxdraw was conducted with some big guns drawing well. Aston Rupee drew box 3 and opened up at $1.60 with Sportsbet, Typhoon Sammy ($3.10) got the cherry, while Jungle Deuce (6) and Big Opal Rocks (5) drew poorly.
Aston Rupee is expected to open up an early TAB Australia Cup favourite with betting companies framing markets on Wednesday night.
Other events on the night will include the Fanta Bale Super Stayers heats where the nations best endurance greyhounds take to the track over 725m.
Fanta Bale won 42 races from 63 starts over the longer journey earning more than 1.3 million dollars in prizemoney.
The stayers heats will kick off in races one to four in what will be a sensational night of greyhound racing.
Frontrunner Untapped has drawn box 3 in race 3 and gets her chance to lead the field again with the lack of early pace on her inside.
Trainer Dustin Drew, of Warrnambool, said she would be “thereabouts” early and he hoped she would improve after last weeks 3rd placing behind Gypsy Wyong.
“She only had one run behind the lure in three weeks before last weeks run so she should improve,” Drew said.
The young trainer said it was a quality field and Untapped would have to be strong to the line to win.
“I think the South Australian dog “Frankie Boy” could improve because he was a good run last Saturday night.”
Untapped ran 4.90 to the first split last week and a repeat of that should see the daughter of Aston Dee Bee x Mepunga Flame lead this.
She was only 2L away (3rd) from one of the early cup favourites, Gypsy Wyong last time and as we all know in the big races, having early pace is definitely an advantage.
Before that a short stint in NSW proved to be successful with the black bitch running a 2nd, 1st and 4th respectively, again with Untapped hitting the lead very early on in the piece.
Untapped has opened up at $1.50 on the books, while Frankie Boy is a $7.50 quote.