Bill Collins Memorial Speed Star fields announced
THE official draw for the Group 3 Bill Collins Memorial Speed Star series (515m) has been released, with some of the country's fastest dogs set to do battle at Sandown Park on Thursday night.
The 2016 edition is the first year the Memorial will be run in the innovative format, which will see four match races being conducted in quick succession with gaps of 10 minutes between each race.
Greyhounds qualified for the final based on the times they have run over the track and trip at Sandown Park between February 1 and May 1, 2016, with specific Speed Star trials also being held in recent weeks to give greyhounds the chance to qualify. The eight fastest nominated greyhounds across this time period were drawn in the final field.
On the final day of qualifying trials (Sunday), Victorian stars Blazin' Bomber and Invictus Rapid were able to elevate themselves into the starting eight, clocking 29.176 and 29.233 respectively.
The greyhounds which made the final field (in order of fastest time) are as follows:
1 – Dalgetty – 29.087
2 – Outside Pass – 29.105
3 – Dundee Osprey – 29.109
4 – Major Jackpot – 29.118
5 – Burn One Down – 29.156
6 – Blazin' Bomber – 29.177
7 – Buck Forty – 29.226
8 – Invictus Rapid – 29.233
Reserves
9 – Allen Portland – 29.296
10 – Dawkins Bale – 29.338
The box draw was conducted live on course on Sunday night, with the match-ups set to be exciting affair.
Match 1 (7:45pm) – Dundee Osprey (1) vs. Blazin' Bomber (2)
Match 2 (7:54pm) – Invictus Rapid (3) vs. Dalgetty (4)
Match 3 (8:03pm) – Buck Forty (5) vs. Burn One Down (6)
Match 4 (8:12pm) – Outside Pass (7) vs. Major Jackpot (8)
In each match race, the odd numbered greyhound will jump from box one, with the even numbered greyhound to start from box three.
The Bill Collins Speed Star series carries a total prize money purse of $61,000, with the winner or each match event pocketing $10,000, with the fastest winner overall collecting an additional $15,000, with another $6,000 going to second.