Postman Pat facing stiff competition in Brisbane Cup Final
Postman Pat will be looking to maintain his undefeated record on Australian shores when he lines up in the Group 1 Brisbane Cup Final at Albion Park on Friday night.
Top greyhound betting sites have the Jason Thompson-trained dog pegged as a $1.85 favourite for the $1 million feature over the 520m.
He took out his heat last week in 29.53 while paying $1.33, using his huge engine and pace to swing the final turn six lengths ahead of runner-up Simply Limelight.
Brisbane Cup Heat 4 replay
Winner: Postman Pat (29.53)
For the final, the Hooked On Scotch x Birdie Tee star will jump from box eight – as he did in the heat – with two-time Group 1 winner Amron Boy ($4.60) inside of him from box seven.
Handler Luke Thompson said Postman Pat – who is being looked after by champion trainer Tony Brett during the Queensland Winter Greyhound Carnival – was ready to go and show what he could do.
“He's shaping up very well going into Friday,” Thompson said.
“Tony said he pulled up really well after the heat and will be ready to put his best foot forward for the final.
“Box eight is always a challenge in any race, especially in a Group 1 when it's hotly contested going into the first bend, it can be difficult for most dogs to get across and get into the race.
“This bloke thankfully, isn't most dogs.
“He's special with a capital ‘S'.
“He showed last week he can work his way across from the wide alley off a moderate beginning – hopefully he can begin better this week and carve across the field and set the rest of the field the task of running him down.
“A lot of the dogs in the field will head towards the fence and give him the room to accelerate down the outside.
“What a field it is though – it's a fantastic mix of interstate contenders and local chances.
“The club would be wrapped with the quality of the field assembled.
“You've got arguably the best greyhound in the country in Amron Boy, (as well as) Elite Machine, Simply Limelight and Crumble Monelli, who have won some of the biggest races this year.
“Magistrate and Bear's Bullet have been flying through the Queensland carnival, and Mepunga Warrior doesn't know how to run a bad race.
“Postman Pat can't afford to make any mistakes against this field.
“However, we wouldn't swap him for any dog in the race or swap the draw that he's got.
“He's been faultless since he's come into our care, hopefully he can produce a faultless run one more time on Friday.”
The former Kiwi chaser arrived on our shores in February and won his first Australian start at Geelong on May 12 over the 460m, clocking 25.35 while beating the field home by just under a length.
In two starts over the Albion Park 520m – the same trip he finds in the $650,000-to-the-winner final – his best time was on June 22 when beating home the Ned Snow-trained Shipwreck in 29.39 by close to 12 lengths.
He will have to find that level again in the final when lining up against the Brooke Ennis-trained Amron Boy, Greg Stella's Magistrate, and Bear's Bullet from the Travis Elson kennels.
Magistrate ($17) has 17 wins and eight placings and will celebrate his 30th career start in Friday's final.
He is a two-time Group 3 winner and is armed with a deadly finish, as he showed in his 2.75-length heat win ahead of Alpha Zulu.
Brisbane Cup Heat 7 replay
Winner: Magistrate (29.91)
The Fernando Bale x Inspired Hope chaser has drawn box five for the final, having won on both occasions from that draw.
Bear's Bullet caused an upset in her heat when beating Victa Damian, who was a $2.70 favourite in that race.
The Fernando Bale x Mumma's Hope bitch has nine wins and 11 placings from 27 starts, having gone unplaced once in her last 11 runs.
She will jump from box one and is currently paying $9 with online bookmakers, and her trainer says she looks good to go.
“Bear's run up the straight on Sunday and has pulled up good,” Elson said.
“Very happy with the box one.
“Fingers crossed she can be lead around the first corner and we can see a little trouble behind her.
“That's all I can hope for, it's a very hot race.”
Brisbane Cup Heat 6 replay
Winner: Bear's Bullet (30.01)
2023 Brisbane Cup Final odds & box draw
2023 Brisbane Cup Final Box Draw & FieldAlbion Park520mGroup 1$650,000 to the winnerFriday, July 7
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1 Bear's Bullet
T: Travis ElsonF: 3321Career: 27: 9-8-3Prizemoney: $87,905
+800
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2 Mepunga Warrior
+2000
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3 Crumble Monelli
+650
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4 Elite Machine
T: Jamie MarshF: 3811Career: 38: 21-1-3Prizemoney: $391,905
+550
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5 Magistrate
T: Greg StellaF: 1311Career: 29: 17-6-2Prizemoney: $231,560
+1600
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6 Simply Limelight
T: Peter RodgersF: 3222Career: 50: 19-11-8Prizemoney: $464,325
+1100
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7 Amron Boy
T: Brooke EnnisF: 1111Career: 49: 22-12-4Prizemoney: $641,355
+360
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8 Postman Pat
T: Jason ThompsonF: 1111Career: 21: 17-3-0Prizemoney: $78,405
+100
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| Reserves | |
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9 Kai Bale
T: Correy GrenfellF: 1332Career: 54: 13-13-8Prizemoney: $131,585
+1100
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10 Hara's Herbie
T: Jemma DaleyF: 3152Career: 41: 14-8-7Prizemoney: $205,995
+1400
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Odds correct at time of publication