Big Energy a step closer to Sandown Shootout, Melbourne Cup double
2023 Sandown Shootout winner, Big Energy, stole the show at Sandown Park on Saturday night during the $1.008 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (515m) heats.
Trained by Jackie Greenough, Big Energy displayed speed and dynamism, leaving everyone in awe during night three of the $4.1 million Dream Chasers Festival.
Despite challenging weather conditions, Big Energy motored across the finish line in 28.912 seconds, solidifying his role as the main contender for Saturday night's $1 million final.
Jumping cleanly from the two box in heat four of the group 1 heats, Big Energy led all the way comfortably in 4.97 and 18.41, going on to win by 6.87 lengths over Dundee Rebel.
His split time of 18.41 seconds was just one length away from Fernando Bale's second split record.
The win has the son of Aussie Infrared and Amo Bailar just one win away from completing the Sandown Shootout and Melbourne Cup double.
The last time a greyhound achieved this double was way back in 2003, when Bombastic Shiraz triumphed in the Melbourne Cup after winning the Shootout.
After Big Energy's victory in his Melbourne Cup heat on Saturday night, it seems like he is in form and has a great chance of etching his name into the history books.
2023 Group 1 Melbourne Cup Heat 4 – Big Energy (28.91) T: Jackie Greenough
This outstanding performance marks the third time Big Energy has broken the 29-second barrier at Sandown Park.
Only Aston Rupee surpasses this achievement with four sub-29-second runs.
The Greenough's will be looking to add their first Group 1 Melbourne Cup trophy to the cabinet after their last Melbourne Cup finalist, Tommy Shelby, finished third in the 2020 Group 1 Melbourne Cup behind Hard Style Rico.
The Greenough's have only ever started two other Melbourne Cup finalists, Hotline Hero in 2004, who finished fifth behind Hallucinate; and Awesome Havoc, who finished sixth behind Kantarn Bale in the 1999 Melbourne Cup.
Big Energy has now had 28 starts for 14 wins and a further six second placings, but at Sandown, the greyhound's record is exceptional, with nine wins and two second places from 15 starts over the 515m distance.
But the 2023 Group 1 Adelaide Cup runner-up and 2023 Group 2 Cranbourne Cup (Sandown, 515m) placegetter will face stiff opposition from the Jason Thompson-trained Tim Zoo, who put together an impressive 29.07 performance, winning the second last Melbourne Cup heat by 10.46 lengths on a track that had noticeably suffered from the poor weather conditions.
The box draw for the final was performed after the last of the eight heats and has done nothing to quell the chances of the dominant winner, with Big Energy drawing box four for the final.
The early pace for the $650,000 to-the-winner final is with Idolize in box six and Tim Zoo in box seven, which should allow Big Energy a clean run underneath the pace, assuming a clean getaway and early room to move.
Online bookmakers have taken no chances with Big Energy posting him as the odds-on -125 race favourite for the Group 1 final on Saturday night.
For those who want to take a set against the favourite, from the past 23 Melbourne Cups, only six favourites have been able to secure the sought-after title, Go Wild Teddy in 2000 (+120), Excite Ability in 2002 (+170), Bombastic Shiraz in 2003 (+130), El Grand Senor in 2010 (-114.94), Black Magic Opal in 2013 (+100), and Aston Dee Bee in 2017 (+140).
2023 Group 1 Melbourne Cup Final
2023 Melbourne Cup Box Draw & FieldSandown515mGroup 1$650,000 to-the-winnerSaturday, December 2, 2023
|
|
 |
1 Buddy Monelli
T: Lyn SmithF: 2331Career: 33: 13-5-5Prizemoney: $83,395
+450
|
 |
2 Fab's Vegetable
T: Tom. DaillyF: 1231Career: 53: 14-5-5Prizemoney: $99,125
+1400
|
 |
3 Mac's Damage
+2500
|
 |
4 Big Energy
T: Jackie GreenoughF: 2511Career: 28: 14-6-0Prizemoney: $208,310
-125
|
 |
5 Aussie Rocks
+1300
|
 |
6 Idolize
T: Peter PresuttoF: 1731Career: 55: 26-10-9Prizemoney: $336,400
+2000
|
 |
7 Tim Zoo
+320
|
 |
8 Make No Promise
T: Paul BartoloF: 3111Career: 34: 15-6-7Prizemoney: $167,950
+2000
|
| Reserves | |
 |
9 Dundee Rebel
+1400
|
 |
10 Navarino
T: Jason ThompsonF: 1432Career: 34: 10-7-8Prizemoney: $92,975
+800
|
.jpg){kind=logo}
Odds correct at time of publication