Palawa King a firming favourite in Queensland Cup betting
The Group 1 Queensland Cup Final at Albion Park on Friday night is Palawa King's to lose, as far as the bookmakers are concerned.
Top greyhound betting sites have the Ray Smith-trained rising star as a firming favourite to win the $262,500 feature, plunging from a $3.50 starting price to as short as $2.25.
Even being last from the boxes, the Feral Franky x Maximum Dos dog was fastest in the Queensland Cup heats with a time of 41.83, beating home Victorian-trained dog Fast Milkman by seven and a half lengths.
Queensland Cup Heat 1 replay
Winner: Palawa King (41.83)
He is the winner of 15 races from 38 starts, including the Group 3 Origin Greyhound Series Distance at Albion Park, and has banked $246,115 in prize money for connections.
He will now carry the hopes of NSW and greyhound betting punters nationwide on his shoulders against a quality field that will be out to dent his crown.
Danny Gibbons trains Ariarne Bale, who has run in four Group races over the 700m from 62 race starts.
The Feral Franky x Dyna Zesty bitch placed second in the Group 2 Sydney Cup Final last year before taking the win in the Group 1 Super Stayers Final in February, adding the $100,000 winner's prize to her earnings.
She will line up in the Queensland Cup Final having run down Respectability – the race favourite in their heat – in the shadows of the post after that dog had led for most of the journey.
Queensland Cup Heat 2 replay
Winner: Ariarne Bale (42.38)
Ariarne Bale is paying $6 for the final, and trainer Gibbons was impressed with her performance in the heat given the circumstances.
“Tough field this time but she went super in the heat,” he said.
“I'm hoping for a huge improvement.
“She came off a one-month spell and literally only had one 460m trial before that run, so she was way over done.
“In all honesty if we weren't going up for Kelsey Bale, we probably wouldn't have taken her.
“The box four I feel isn't a huge issue.
“She needs room on the rails.
“She will just wait for an opening on the rail if she gets it, she will go, but if something parks on the rail in front of her, she will probably just follow it rather than pass.”
Another contender is Locked On Scotch – who, in claiming the heat win, marked a successful first start in a black-type race.
Stepping out for his debut at the 710m distance, the Hooked On Scotch x Neytiri Queen dog turned it on, showing early speed to swing the final turn while passing leader Dirt Farmer and run on to win by three lengths in a time of 41.88.
Queensland Cup Heat 5 replay
Winner: Locked On Scotch (41.88)
He has now won 11 races from 38 starts and banked $63,210 in prize money as he prepares for a shot at Group 1 glory in his second start at the staying distance – a task his trainer, John Catton, believes he is ready for.
“The dog has come through the run great,” Catton said.
“Box three is a nice box for us considering the draw.
“With Palawa King in the two and Play Nice in the one it should hopefully give Lockie rails run.
“If he is able to get the start again, he will be able to stay on the rail, so he won't have to do all the work early like he did during the heat.
“Given its his second 700 start I think there is going to be natural improvement and he should be very competitive in the race.
“It's a quality field and I don't think there is a single dog in there that cannot win it!”
2023 Queensland Cup Final odds & field
2023 Queensland Cup Box Draw & FieldAlbion Park710mGroup 1$175,000 to-the-winnerFriday July 7 2023
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1 Play Nice
T: Tim BrittonF: 1341Career: 51: 12-8-9Prizemoney: $130,695
+500
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2 Palawa King
T: Ray SmithF: 4131Career: 38: 15-6-7Prizemoney: $246,115
+150
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3 Locked On Scotch
T: John CattonF: 6131Career: 38: 11-9-5Prizemoney: $63,210
+600
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4 Ariarne Bale
T: Daniel GibbonsF: 4361Career: 62: 16-10-8Prizemoney: $260,330
+500
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5 Wheel And Go
T: Tim BrittonF: 3521Career: 51: 17-8-14Prizemoney: $163,830
+750
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6 Rippin' Grace
+450
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7 Blue Hornet
+1400
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8 Dirt Farmer
T: Tim BrittonF: 5252Career: 40: 12-7-3Prizemoney: $84,135
+1700
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| Reserves | |
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9 Fast Milkman
T: Tim BrittonF: 4212Career: 49: 8-13-6Prizemoney: $58,515
+1600
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+2200
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Odds correct at time of publication