Postman Pat still unbeaten as Amron Boy et al stake Brisbane Cup claim
Undefeated on Australian greyhound tracks, New Zealand (NZ) import Postman Pat made it seven wins from seven Australian starts when qualifying quickest for the 2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup last night at Albion Park; but Victorian greyhound Amron Boy staked his claim for the final as well, winning his heat in a time that was within a half length of Postman Pat's qualifying time.
West Australian (WA) Perth Cup winner Elite Machine, and the valiant New South Wales (NSW) dog Simply Limelight also qualified through to the $1 million Group 1 final with highly competitive times.
Seven heats of the 2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup were held on Thursday night at Albion Park, and pre-post Brisbane Cup betting favourite Postman Pat did not disappoint greyhound fans.
Starting from box eight in the fourth heat of the $650,000 to-the-winner race series, Postman Pat didn't quite show the same blistering early pace as he had the week prior, but still did enough to gain the lead before entering the first corner.
From that point in the race it was only a case of times and margins, with Postman Pat going to the line to win in 29.53, keeping his immaculate Australian record intact.
2023 Golden Easter Egg winner Simply Limelight put in an enormous run to finish second from last early, and qualify for the rich final, taking many lengths off the winner in the run home to finish 4.25 lengths from Postman Pat.
2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup Heat 4 – Postman Pat (29.53) T: Jason Thompson
Simply Limelight's finishing time of 29.82 actually makes him the fourth fastest qualifier for the final despite finishing second.
Postman Pat was sent to the boxes the dominant -303.03 favourite with greyhound betting sites, and the Kiwi-import son of Hooked On Scotch and Birdie Tee can now add a Group 1 Australian final to his career record of 17 wins and three seconds from 21 race starts.
Postman Pat was named the +250 favourite to win the whole series just after the box draw for the heats, and that price has now trimmed in to +100 after he drew box eight again for next week's final.
But Group 1 Harrison Dawson winner, Amron Boy, reminded everyone he will be a major force in the final when he led the opening Brisbane Cup heat from box two and went on to win comfortably in 29.55.
The run was just 0.02 outside Postman Pat's winning time.
2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup Heat 1 – Amron Boy (29.55) T: Brooke Ennis
The win was no real surprise to greyhound punters as Amron Boy was a very firm -250 favourite to win his heat, but the fact he has gone so close to Postman Pat's time sets up an intriguing contest next week, given Postman Pat's early speed versus Amron Boy's strong finishes.
Greyhound bookmakers were quick to act winding in Amron Boy's pre-post odds of +600 to +360 second favourite for the Group 1 final.
WA greyhound Elite Machine did enough winning the fifth heat of the cup to suggest the final will not just be a race in two.
The 2023 Perth Cup winner was able to lead from box two and gave nothing else a chance, going on to win in 29.68.
2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup Heat 5 – Elite Machine (29.68) T: Jamie Marsh
Elite Machine's win was 0.1 seconds quicker than his Brisbane Cup prelude win the week before, and a small further improvement will see him well placed to take the race to Postman Pat, Amron Boy and Simply Limelight.
Recent Group 3 State Of Origin Sprint series race winner, Magistrate, was another all the way winner in the final heat of the seven Brisbane Cup Heats.
Exiting box two, Magistrate was the +340 third favourite on greyhound betting apps behind Alpha Zulu (+160) and favourite Kelsey Bale who was +120, but was able to rest the lead from Alpha Zulu and go on for a 29.91 win.
2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup Heat 7 – Magistrate (29.91) T: Greg Stella
The Jeff Britton-trained Mepunga Warrior wasn't given much hope in heat two of the Brisbane Cup, being sent to the boxes as a +2000 outsider.
At start number 102, the 12-time group and listed race finalist was able to race up outside early leader Big Town Hero, and then fought on doggedly to grind out the win near the line in 30.01.
2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup Heat 2 – Mepunga Warrior (30.01) T: Jeff Britton
In the penultimate of the Brisbane Cup heats, local greyhound Bear's Bullet won in the same time as Mepunga Warrior, when he was able to steal enough of a break to get home in front of the fast finishing Victa Damian.
2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup Heat 6 – Bear's Bullet (30.01) T: Travis Elson
WA will have two greyhounds in next week's $1 million Group 1 Brisbane Cup final after Crumble Monelli won the third of the seven heats in 30.21 from box one.
The 2023 Group 2 WA Derby winner, who is trained by Dave Hobby, was able to use the rails draw to advantage to get on the heels of the early leader Tomahawk Hayze, before coming away well to win in 30.21.
2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup Heat 3 – Crumble Monelli (30.21) T: Dave Hobby
The box draw for the $650,000 to-the-winner Group 1 Brisbane Cup final was performed after the heats, and has boxed the two major chances in Postman Pat and Amron Boy next to each other in boxes eight and seven respectively.
2023 Group 1 Brisbane Cup Final
2023 Brisbane Cup Box Draw & Field |
|
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1 Bear's Bullet
T: Travis ElsonF: 3321Career: 27: 9-8-3Prizemoney: $87,905
+800
|
 |
2 Mepunga Warrior
T: Jeff BrittonF: 4161Career: 102: 21-28-19Prizemoney: $319,380
+2000
|
 |
3 Crumble Monelli
T: Dave HobbyF: 1531Career: 29: 20-4-2Prizemoney: $527,410
+650
|
 |
4 Elite Machine
+550
|
 |
5 Magistrate
T: Greg StellaF: 1311Career: 29: 17-6-2Prizemoney: $231,560
+1600
|
 |
6 Simply Limelight
T: Peter RodgersF: 3222Career: 50: 19-11-8Prizemoney: $464,325
+1100
|
 |
7 Amron Boy
+360
|
 |
8 Postman Pat
T: Jason ThompsonF: 1111Career: 21: 17-3-0Prizemoney: $78,405
+100
|
| Reserves | |
 |
9 Kai Bale
T: Correy GrenfellF: 1332Career: 54: 13-13-8Prizemoney: $131,585
+1100
|
 |
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