Paws of Thunder final wide open after Aston Rupee bombs in heats
The 2022 Ladbrokes Paws of Thunder Final has been thrown wide open after pre-post favourite Aston Rupee sensationally failed to qualify for the $75,000 G1 feature.
The star Victorian and reigning Top Gun champion found trouble on the first bend after starting from box three in the last of eight heats at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Aston Rupee was last following the interference and never recovered, failing to beat another runner home as a $1.40 favourite (with Palmerbet).
The heat was won by $6 second elect Irinka Riley who used a box eight draw to full advantage and dashed away from his rivals to score by three lengths in 29.78.
His trainer, Jack Smith, has two Paws Of Thunder Finalists after Jungle Deuce ($1.45 fav) produced an outstanding performance to take heat six in 29.84.
Slow to begin but aided by a five-dog field, the son of Barcia Bale edged his career earnings towards $370,000, notching win 22 at start 38.
Exciting chaser Bandit Ned stamped himself as a key player in the January 22 Final with a brilliant win in heat two.
The $2.15 popular elect gave punters an early fright when he was crossed from box one but showed brilliant speed to defeat Qwara Bale by two and a half lengths in 29.70.
The son of Fernando Bale has now won 16 of his 22 outings for trainer Jodie Lord.
Do It ($2.40 fav) was the fastest heat winner, securing a narrow victory in the third qualifier and stopping the clock at 29.59.
He jumped on the bunny from box three and repelled a spirited challenge from second favourite Fernando Hunter to advance to the Final for trainer Jeff Britton.
Wicked Flash and trainer Peter Ray caused a major upset in heat one, defying a $21 starting price with greyhound betting sites to win in 29.95.
In contrast, Wow was heavily backed to start $1.45 favourite in heat four and duly saluted in 29.71 for trainer Danielle Matic, albeit after encountering a checkered path early from box two.
Wow is already a G1 winner and will be out to add the Paws Of Thunder to his 2021 Temlee trophy.
The Jason Magri-prepared Where’s Rocky ($7.50) railed hard from an inside draw in heat five and won in a head bobbing finish, narrowly defying $2.20 fav Zipping Kyrgios in 30.1.
Heat seven saw another upset, with Chase Me Honey ($6.50) producing a dashing run to defeat Tachycardic and luckless odds-on favourite Zipping Kansas.
Prepared by Michael Hardman, Chase Me Honey will be flying the flag for the girls next weekend as the only bitch to qualify; unsurprisingly, five of the eight finalists are by super sire Fernando Bale.
Paws Of Thunder Heat Winners (fastest to slowest)
- Do It 29.59
- Bandit Ned 29.70
- Wow 29.71
- Chase Me Honey 29.74
- Irinka Riley 29.78
- Jungle Deuce 29.84
- Wicked Flash 29.95
- Where’s Rocky 30.01