Temora Cup Preview – Another Track Record?
The Temora meeting on Sunday has been given TAB coverage and will showcase the $10,000 to-the-winner Sportingbet/GBOTA Temora Cup final. The Cup is run over a distance of 457 metres on the one turn track. Last year the Temora Cup was taken out by Dana Hayley.
The heats for the Cup race were action-packed with the track record falling not once, but twice. Prior to the Cup heats, the track record of 26.09 was held by the Mark Wilcox trained dog, Buster Shiraz.
The first greyhound to lower the mark was the Alan Pringle trained My Kinda Music. The black bitch by El Grand Senor – Ice Dancer (Spiral Nikita – Herron Quay) clocked 25.95 in heat one.
However, the record wasn’t out of Wilcox’s hands long, as his brindle chaser Knocka’s Return went just a shade better, stopping the clock at 25.94 in heat two. The dog by Knocka Norris – Winning Shiraz (Bombastic Shiraz – Winning Smile) is the brother of former track record holder Buster Shiraz.
The Temora Cup is race eight on the card and jumps at 8:07pm. Here’s a look at the chances of the finalists.
Box 1: Release The Heat – Jason Platts
Jason Platts’ four-year-old by Slater – Rosey Rita has seen plenty of racing in NSW and Victoria and has notched up 22 wins. He won his heat last week in 26.12 at his first race start at Temora. It was the first race he had won since October last year. He is drawn perfectly in box one, with seven wins coming from the rails draw. He also had this alley last week. The query is whether he can overcome the hot youngster drawn next to him.
Box 2: My Kinda Music – Alan Pringle
If you are looking for a greyhound to follow, this is the one. My Kinda Music has just turned two years of age and has started her career with a bang. She’s won seven of her ten starts. She has only been unplaced once and that was only because she fell in a race at Bathurst. She is a speedy bitch with fast wins at Bulli (22.30), Richmond (22.32) and Bathurst (17.65) to her name. As mentioned, she also broke the track record last week, winning her heat by four and a half lengths at her first go at the track. She looks the one to beat.
Box 3: Ay Grade – Denice Warren
Ay Grade is an experienced chaser trained by Denice Warren. The black dog by Vapour Whirl – Tasha’s Girl has 11 wins from 43 starts and has been showing some good, consistent form lately. He ran second in his heat behind Perfect Chance and clocked a fast 26.03 for the run. He hasn’t taken a liking to box three in his career, winning just once from nine starts out of the box. He has placed five times from the draw and can be considered a place chance.
Box 4: Accelerant – Peter Presutto
Victorian chaser Accelerant made the long trip to Temora worthwhile for trainer Peter Presutto, qualifying for the final after running second to Release The Heat. The Collision – Drama Queen dog has some fast wins on the Victorian circuit. He is a good beginner and should improve on last week’s run.
Box 5: Pleiades – Lorraine Roy
Pleiades is a talented chaser that needs some room in the early stages in order to explode. The Cosmic Rumble – Special Osti dog hasn’t drawn well in the squeeze box. He recently resumed racing after a short month spell. Prior to the spell, he and been running over 600 metres at Dapto. The Lorraine Roy trained chaser won his heat in 26.98 last week but will face a tougher task this week.
Box 6: White Spyro – Craig Davis
Victorian White Spyro is a very young greyhound that has done well to qualify for the Temora Cup final. The white and black bitch by Disintegrate – Hanify’s Elite is just 22 months of age and has had 11 starts for three wins. She is a reliable beginner but will face a test from box six. Trained by Craig Davis, White Spyro was the slowest of all the heat winners, recording a time of 26.23.
Box 7: Knocka’s Return – Mark Wilcox
Goulburn Cup winner Knocka’s Return loves a wide draw and wore the black rug last week en route to his record breaking victory. He hasn’t been unplaced in his last ten starts and is a big hope for the final. The one turn tracks suit him right down to the ground.
Box 8: Perfect Chance – Lorraine Roy
Lorraine Roy’s second finalist, Perfect Chance, won his 30th race last week in the heats and clocked a flying 26.01. The Bombastic Shiraz – It’s A Chance dog has faced the starter 58 times and raced at Temora three times for a win and two placings. He had the rails last week and now makes the move out to the wide draw, from which he has won two races. He’s a fast dog and is the other chaser outside of My Kinda Music and Knocka’s Return that has a big shot at the major prize.
Reserves
First Reserve: Cosmic Apache – Rodney McDonald
Rodney McDonald trained last year’s Temora Cup winner Dana Hayley. He trains first reserve, Cosmic Apache, who ran second in the heats behind Knocka’s Return. The Cosmic Rumble – Dana Betty dog was beaten by just over three lengths. If he gains a start, he may struggle as he isn’t always the best away.
Second Reserve: Pantone Green – Margaret Keys
Pantone Green is a fast beginner but has been out of form in its most recent runs at Bulli, Gosford and Wentworth Park. The Magic Sprite – Wind It Up dog struggles to run out a strong 472 metres at Bulli so the distance will again test if he gets a start. Trained by Margaret Keys, he ran second to My Kinda Music in the heats, beaten four and a half lengths.
The three major players in the race are My Kinda Music (2), Knocka’s Return (7) and Perfect Chance (8). If any of these dogs lead, then the race looks all but over. Release The Heat (1) is drawn well in box one, but only won for the first time in a number of months last week. Ay Grade (4) and Pleiades (5) will need some luck in the early stages to factor, but are place chances. White Spyro (6) looks a little out of her depth, but it’s a credit to her ability that she has made the final after limited career starts and she looks to have a bright future. Accelerant (4) is the unknown factor. If he improves on last week’s run he has a shot.