Tonight sees another Quartet Happy Hour with four jackpots allocated to races at Albion Park, Angle Park and Sandown Park this week. The Happy Hour starts at 6.44pm and finishes up on the major feature event of the night – the Group 2 McKenna Memorial Final at 7.35pm.
BD7 – 6.44pm – Best 8 (710m) – $5,000
Est pool $30k
We kick off the night with a short priced favourite that only bad luck can stop. The 710m track record holder DASHING CORSAIR (1) meets a field that he should gobble up and still have time for seconds. What more do we have to say other than DASHING CORSAIR, box 1, easy race, therefore include him one-out up front in quartets. The field behind the champ is fairly open with most of them being capable of beating each other depending on the sort of run they get. SATURN ASSASSIN (2) has the form and the draw to slightly stand out from the rest of them and with a repeat of his last two runs here he will fill a placing for sure and certain. Youngster TIZZA TOKEN (8) appears to be a solid stayer in the making and at his debut over the trip last week he finished 3.50 lengths behind SATURN ASSASSIN. Natural improvement should see him run a better race tonight and if he can get across from the pink box he will be challenging for the minors. The very consistent GOLD SONATA (6) is never far away in this type of race and even though she is not a winning proposition, she is an absolute must inclusion for the placings. Including the field for fourth is an option for those looking for a wider result, but skinny players should concentrate on the consistent LADY TYCOON (4) and the recent improver ACE ZACE (3).
Quartet selections (listed in order of preference)
Winner: DASHING CORSAIR (1)
Best Place Chances: SATURN ASSASSIN (2), LADY TYCOON (4)
Other Place Chances: TIZZA TOKEN (8) & GOLD SONATA (6)
BD7 – The Best of the “Happy Hour” Jackpots
Skinny Quartet Option
Last week’s collect: Nil
1 – 2,4 – 2,4,6,8 – 2,3,4,6,8 $60 for 333.3%
Wide Quartet Option
Last week’s collect: Nil
1 – 2,4,6,8 – 2,3,4,6,8 – Field $60 for 75%
MD6 – 6.52pm – Mixed 4/5 (595m) – $5,000
Est pool $30k
WA-owned middle distance star KAY SIZE (3) is second-up at the track and distance and he should improve plenty after his solid third at his debut run behind the classy FLASH OF LIGHT. With a better jump from this inside draw expect to see him battling out the early lead and with clear running he could easily win this. The big danger will come from the seasoned stayer JARVIS BALE (1). He was also having his debut over this distance last week and after a slow beginning he recovered well to finish off the race powerfully. From the rails draw he is a huge chance. Plenty is expected from the most inexperienced runner of the field, PINK BANDANNA (5). She has talent and has already won 5 of her 10 career starts including once here in 34.45, but she meets some seasoned types in this and also has the squeeze box to contend with, hence she must be some risk here. NELLY BALE (6) is one of the better place chances here, but can be a little hard to find on her night. Both reserves gain starts here with ALLEN CHANG (10 from 2) bringing some early pace into the race for his first middle distance start, however including him for the minors looks the best option. DYNA JAYDEN (9 from 4) has been consistent without troubling the judge too often over the longer trips; however she does run on OK and should be included for the minors too. BLOSS’ BURRA (8) is a good finisher with good recent form over the middle distances and also rates handily for quartet placings.
Quartet selections (listed in order of preference)
Winners: KAY SIZE (3) & JARVIS BALE (1)
Best Place Chances: PINK BANDANNA (5) & NELLY BALE (6)
Minor Place Chances: BLOSS’ BURRA (8), ALLEN CHANG (10) & DYNA JAYDEN (9)
AD7 – 7.22pm – Free For All (515m) – $5,000
Est pool $30k
In an open race like this one the box draw is vitally important and TINASHE BALE (1) has come up with the prize red box here. She appears to be well suited from box and it will be a surprise if she does not finish in the top 4 in this. The key to this race early will be how GIRL HARDY (5) jumps, generally she is a quick beginner and on Monday she pinged and led them a merry dance. A repeat of that will see her right up there with the main chances. The strongest finisher of the field is SPRINGVALE DASH (4) and she is never far away from the winner in whatever race she contests; her career record of 29 starts for 10 wins and 13 placings is testament to that. She just missed out on another win on Monday night when she finished off the race powerfully along the rail and couldn’t quite catch the tearaway leader GIRL HARDY. A greyhound who has recently moved up in class is HUDSON BALE (3). He is capable of finding a prominent spot early in this field. He already has the scalp of SPRINGVALE DASH on his rap sheet and with the inside draw he is definitely a live chance in this. A solid place hope who would be a wise inclusion in quartets is BELLA CALABRESA (2). The good box draw will help offset the rise in class for her and she does look like a good third / fourth place chance. The greyhounds drawn outside appear to have their work cut out for them in this affair, with ARTHUR’S ROSE (8) rating as the best of them given she can finish off her races well.
Quartet selections (listed in order of preference)
Winners: TINASHE BALE (1), SPRINGVALE DASH (4) & GIRL HARDY (5)
Best Place Chances: HUDSON BALE (3) & BELLA CALABRESA (2)
Minor Place Chance: ARTHUR’S ROSE (8)
MD8 – 7.35pm – Group 2 McKenna Memorial FINAL (595m) – $5,000
Est pool $30k
The Happy Hour finishes up on the major feature event of the night, and what a field will go to the boxes here. FLASH OF LIGHT (2) comes into the final as the fastest qualifier after pinging the lids in her heat to lead all the way in an impressive 34.43. She will have every chance of repeating that performance from the stripes. The speedy and in-form ZAMBOLA BALE (7) will trouble her early though after she equalled the first sectional of FLASH OF LIGHT last week when going 9.16 early. She also led all the way in a marginally slower time of 34.45, but the wider draw is slightly against her. The other quick heat winner was the NSW visitor SMOOTH FANCY (8) who won impressively in 34.44, but he was a few lengths slower than the other two early and will have some work to do wearing pink. He is too classy to leave out of the winning chances though, as he is a powerful greyhound ideally suited to the 595m at his second try over the trip. There are three solid each way hopes here as well – the consistent PHILBY (1) from the rails draw and the other two heat winners WHERE’S WOMBY (3), who was impressive in running home well in his heat in 34.67 and the wide running PULP (4) who also ran an impressive race to qualify in 34.53. Those six greyhounds should dominate the market and it is probably safe to play quartets without the other two runners.
Quartet selections (listed in order of preference)
Winners: FLASH OF LIGHT (2) & ZAMBOLA BALE (7)
Best Place Chances: WHERE’S WOMBY (3) & SMOOTH FANCY (8)
Place Anchor: PULP (4)
Minor Place Chance: PHILBY (1)