Australian Cup – Who Will Be Crowned Champ In 2011?
Tonight the greyhound world will turn its attention to The Meadows for the running of the 53rd Group 1 MTD Australian Cup, worth $150,000 to the winner.
The first running of the Australian Cup – back in 1958 – saw happy connections of odds-on favourite Rookie Rebel collect an 800-pound first prize.
Today, the anticipation grows as pre-post favourite High Earner aims to become the first greyhound to crack the $700,000 prizemoney barrier if successful in Saturday's night's Group 1 classic.
The son of Collision and Double Guess will start from box seven – the same draw he exited when bolting in
with the Group 1 Macro Meats Temlee on February 19.
Win, lose or draw; High Earner will be re-retired after tonight's race to return to stud. It is understood that this time around he will stand in Victoria at Paul Westerveld's Meticulous Lodge.
High Earner is $1.75 in fixed odds markets at Sportsbet to win tonight's Australian Cup final.
Group 1 Temlee runner-up Perfect Fancy will be aiming to turn the tables on High Earner on Saturday night, and, in the process, break through for his first Group win after five previous attempts.
Sportsbet have Perfect Fancy at $4.50 to win the Australian Cup.
The MTD Australian Cup (9.45pm) is one of two Group 1 finals at The Meadows tonight, with the best stayers in the land clashing in the Macro Meats Superstayers final (8.45pm) on what promises to be a huge night of racing.
Patrons on the night will enjoy free entry, loads of kids entertainment – including the chance to win children's bikes – a live band, free TAB Big 6 Vouchers and some of the best racing on the calendar at Australia's premier greyhound racing venue. Fans of A-League football club Melbourne Victory will also get the chance to meet strikers Archie Thompson and Socceroo Robbie Kruse on the night.