2013 Group 2 Mega Merch Ballarat Cup Final Preview

Tomorrow night's Mega Merch Ballarat Cup promises to be one of the most exciting country cups in recent memory, with a mix of proven stars and some very exciting up and coming sprinters. There is also the added intrigue of Paw Licking and Ronan Izmir chasing the $50,000 GRV incentive on offer for winning three country cups in a calendar year.

 

Australian Racing Greyhound got the thoughts from the eight kennels in the lead-up to the big race.

Box 1
Race Odds
$4.80
Heat Replay
Dark Warrior
Trainer
Owner
Fast Track Racing
Prizemoney
$93,540
Last 10 Starts
1421141251
35 Month Black Dog by Where's Pedro
Start Moderate Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $2,078 Rating 95
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
45 25 6 3
Rates
Win % Place %
55% 75%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 2 0 0
Box 1 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
8 5 0 1
Comments: Darren McDonald (Trainer) – “He is some sort of chance from the box. He is two or three lengths off the really good dogs, but his habits are good. If he didn't have the box he would struggle, but if he does everything right from there he is some sort of chance. I would say a good each way chance, but he will need that element of luck, and with that luck he will be competitive.”
Best Ballarat Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
25.30 25.30 6.56 6.56
Box 2
Race Odds
$26
Heat Replay
Veyron Bale
Trainer
Andrea Dailly
Owner
P WHEELER
Prizemoney
$73,400
Last 10 Starts
8223148612
33 Month Black Dog by Meticulous
Start Slow/Moderate Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $1,497 Rating 86
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
49 12 10 5
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
24% 55%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 0 1 0
Box 2 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
7 1 0 2
Comments: Tom Dailly (Co-trainer) – “He has drawn nicely inside, but will need to get out of the box to beat Ronan Izmir or Paw Licking. I won't be holding my breath, he doesn't come out running very often.”  
Best Ballarat Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
25.29 25.29 6.78 6.78
Box 3
Race Odds
$8.50
Heat Replay
Clone Your Own
Trainer
Rob Britton
Owner
A Lee
Prizemoney
$162.090
Last 10 Starts
3631334621
36 Month Black Dog by Droopys Marco Elie Saab
Start Moderate Running Middle Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $3,602 Rating 87
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
45 20 5 9
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
44% 75%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 1 0 0
Box 3 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
6 3 0 1
Comments: Robbie Britton (Trainer) – “It will be tough. I think I've got a dog good enough to win the race, but because he isn't overly quick early it will be tough against these other dogs. However, if he has a little bit of luck, he is definitely good enough to win the race.”
Best Ballarat Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
25.21 25.21 6.68 6.68
Box 4
Race Odds
$2.50
Heat Replay
Ronan Izmir
Trainer
Owner
S BURNS
Prizemoney
$185,160
Last 10 Starts
1111213311
35 Month Black Dog by Elite State Adhara Izmir
Start Fast Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $3,939 Rating 95
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
47 29 5 6
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
61% 85%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
5 4 0 0
Box 4 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
4 2 0 2
Comments: Jason Thompson (Trainer) – “I think the dog has a terrific chance. Even though the four doesn't seem like a good draw, with the dogs drawn around him I think it's ok. I'm actually as happy as I can be considering he drew the middle, we think he will be near the lead or leading the race. He is going very well and has had a freshen up before the series started and hopefully he is ready to peak tomorrow night. He is a very good chance, it's now up to him.”
Best Ballarat Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
24.97 25.13 6.45 6.52
Box 5
Race Odds
$2.80
Heat Replay
Paw Licking
Trainer
Kel Greenough
Owner
A Lang
Prizemoney
$191,255
Last 10 Starts
4115131271
33 Month White/Black Dog by Elite State
Start Fast Running Middle Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $4,664 Rating 95
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
41 25 6 2
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
60% 80%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 1 0 0
Box 5 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
5 2  1  1
Comments: Kel Greenough (Trainer) – “Paw Licking and Ronan Izmir are unbelievably evenly matched, almost identical on ability and I don't think there is a breath between them. The dog that gets the breaks is the dog that will win the race. but if they do happen to go hammer and tongs at each other they can set it up for something else to run them down.”
Best Ballarat Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
25.15 25.15 6.52 6.52
Box 6
$9.00
Heat Reply
Deadly Vane
Trainer
Joe Borg
Owner
Deadly Capers (SYN), P MATTHEWS, M MATTHEWS
Prizemoney
$16,060
Last 10 Starts
14511161
23 Month Blue Dog by Vee Man Vane Surfing Idol
Start Moderate Running Middle Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $2,007 Rating 84
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
8 5 0 0
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
62% 62%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
3 2 0 0
Box 6 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 1 0  0
Comments: Joe Borg (Trainer) – “It all depends on Ronan Izmir and Paw Licking, who are the likely leaders. I'm hoping I get a clean run and Empire Allen doesn't cut down on top. My dog has genuine early pace, but not as much as the two genuine speedsters. If he get's a clean run, then he can finish it off nicely. He is very strong at the end, which is his biggest asset. Proven Impala is the best dog I've trained, but this dog is the fastest.”
Best Ballarat Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
25.35 25.35 6.57 6.98
Box 7
Race Odds
$12
Heat Replay
Empire Allen
Trainer
Andrea Dailly
Owner
J Wheeler
Prizemoney
$34,355
Last 10 Starts
2631113331
26 Month Black Dog by Fear Zafonic Dyna Celeste
Start Moderate/Fast Running Railer Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $1,493 Rating 89
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
23 8 4 7
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
34% 82%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2  1  0  1
Box 7 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
3 2 0 1
Comments: Tom Dailly (Co-trainer) – “He has drawn the opposite end and it will be hard to get around the other two, but you never know. He is a good honest dog and was a great run last week. I would have preferred him drawn inside.”
Best Ballarat Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
25.17 25.17 6.56 6.56
Box 8
Race Odds
$26
Heat Replay
Allen Malik
Trainer
Owner
J Wheeler
Prizemoney
$15,236
Last 10 Starts
6151335311
24 Month Brindle Dog by Surf Lorian Spiral Bale
Start Moderate/Slow Running Middle Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $1,385 Rating 85
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
11 5 0 3
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
45% 72%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2  1  0  1
Box 8 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
0 0 0  0
Comments: Collins (Kennel Representative) – “We are going to need a lot of luck from the pink and we would have preferred him drawn on the rails. Being so young and inexperienced, he might find it tough against the more seasoned campaigners. He is a young dog on the rise and will improve with this experience, but will find it tough.”
Best Ballarat Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
25.21 25.21 6.65 6.65

 

The general consensus among the camps is that the likely leader will be Ronan Izmir or Paw Licking, which will make it very hard for any runner to chase them down. If those two speedsters happen to tangle, then it will set the race up for a run on type such as the highly talented Joe Borg trained youngster Deadly Vane, or Clone Your Own for Robbie Britton. It promises to be an exciting race, with the field assembled worthy of the races Group Two status.

Matthew Jenkins, from TAB Sportsbet who are betting pre-post on the final; reports they have taken bets of $1,600 @ $2.80 on Paw Licking to win the final and that Deadly Vane “has found steady support, backed $16.00 in to $9.00 with plenty of $100 bets.”

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Donny Clark
Donny Clark
10 years ago

Huge rap from Joe Borg there. Gonna see a bit of that dog by the sounds

Donny Clark
Donny Clark
10 years ago

Huge rap from Joe Borg there. Gonna see a bit of that dog by the sounds