2016 UBET Adelaide Cup Final - Preview
2016 UBET ADELAIDE CUP – BOX DRAW
In cold, wet and windy conditions rarely seen at Angle Park before, some of the best sprinters in the land braved the conditions to see who would qualify for next Friday nights Group 1 UBET Adelaide Cup final.
Dyna Boomer for Andrea Dailly was the first greyhound through to next weeks final and was also the fastest qualifier after he was able to avoid trouble on the first turn and run home powerfully to score by 8 lengths in the first heat. He ran a sizzling 29.92 for the 515m journey but he did have the best of the ordinary conditions and looks a real prospect in the making. He is a 36kg dog who likes an inside box so even though he is not a brilliant beginner look for him to be pushing through into a forward position from box 2 in the final.
The second heat was won by Benteke who returned to his very best form for Brett Bravo with a dominant display, up on the pace. He ran a flying 29.97 in defeating local hope Mrs Bubbles by 3 lengths for Matthew Payne who also qualified for the final as the fastest second placegetter. The race was weakened due to the scratching’s of Lithgow Panther, Pantera Nera and It’s Classified however Benteke could not have been more impressive. He hasn’t fared well in the box draw coming from the outside and will need plenty of luck however Mrs Bubbles for SA likes a wide draw and box 7 should suit.
The next heat looked a battle on paper between Aqua Cheetah for Jason Thompson and Jesaulenko for Terri-Maree Morris and that’s the way it panned out. Both showed good early speed but the inside draw allowed for Aqua Cheetah to pinch a break on his main rival and that was enough for him to go on and win in a solid 30.16 by 3 lengths. Jason Thompson knows how to win an Adelaide Cup so box 3 and the Thompson “polish” may be enough for another big race win for the kennel.
The fourth heat saw Andrea Dailly qualify her second chance in the Group 1 final when Shima Song was able to edge out her rivals in a keenly contested affair. Shima Song raced up on the pace and kicked clear in the home straight to win by over 2 lengths in a solid 30.25. She is a really professional chaser so even from box 6 next week she should put herself right in the firing line. Andrea Dailly will be chasing her 4th Adelaide Cup in the last 5 years after Spud Regis (2012), Allen Deed (2014) and last years $1million dollar chaser Fernando Bale all took out the Cup.
One For Me for trainer Jeff Britton broke through for a well-deserved feature series win in heat 5 when he proved too strong for local hope Marlow Brown. One For Me also raced up on the pace and drew clear for a solid 2 length win in 30.16 for the 515m trip. Jeff Britton is a great supporter of SA racing and has had plenty of big race success so even box 5 may not stop the kennel’s golden run in the Festival state.
Series favourite Weekend Binge did not disappoint his supporters in the second last heat when the Kel Greenough trained flyer used his blistering early speed to pinch a break on his rivals and hold on for a terrific victory. Weekend Binge who went through the recent SA Derby series undefeated has taken a liking to the Angle Park loam and was clearly the quickest to the first and second sections, running an overall time of 30.01. He has come up with box 4 in next weeks final and looks the greyhound to beat with his exceptional early toe.
All eyes were on the final heat to see if local champ Worm Burner for trainer Cameron Butcher could win his way through to next weeks Group 1 final and give SA their best chance of taking out the Cup. With driving rain and strong winds it seemed the race was run in the worst of the conditions however the local champion showed all his heart by poking his nose out at the right time and claiming Bruce Tycoon in the shadows of the post. He ran a solid 30.31 and lifted over the concluding stages to join Mrs Bubbles as the only two SA representatives in next week’s final. He has drawn box 1 next week and whilst he seems to race best when drawn a little wider on the track he has won 4 of his 6 starts from the red and after his brilliant National Sprint Championship victory in August he will certainly be hard to beat.
The Group 1 UBET Adelaide Cup Final will be run on Friday 7th October and carries total prizemoney of $107,500, with the winner to receive $75,000. It will be race 8 on the program and is listed to jump at 9.08pm (SA time).
The Final field in Box Draw order is:
1. Worm Burner Cameron Butcher (SA)
2. Dyna Boomer Andrea Dailly (VIC)
3. Aqua Cheetah Jason Thompson (VIC)
4. Weekend Binge Kel Greenough (VIC)
5. One For Me Jeff Britton (VIC)
6. Shima Song Andrea Dailly (SA)
7. Mrs Bubbles Matthew Payne (SA)
8. Benteke Brett Bravo (VIC)
9. Leo’s Gift (1st Res) Rob Britton (VIC)
10.Marlow Brown (2nd Res) Paula Hearnden (SA)
The Adelaide Cup brings together some of the best greyhound talent in the country with many having terrific success through the series and going on to become household names in the Industry.
GRSA appreciates the continuing support of GRVIC for allowing our premier night to be conducted on a Friday each year in the interests of the National Racing calendar. By GRVIC swapping one of their meetings the Group 1 UBET Adelaide Cup will gain maximum coverage to the wider community with all races being shown on Sky Racing 1 and makes for a terrific start to next weekend.