2016 UBET Adelaide Cup Final Review
2016 UBET ADELAIDE CUP – REVIEW
Another outstanding field was assembled for Friday nights Group 1 Adelaide Cup final where the Jason Thompson trained Aqua Cheetah stamped himself as a real star of the future with a brilliant victory in SA’s feature race.
History shows when Jason Thompson travels to Adelaide for the Cup series he doesn’t normally miss out highlighted by his past Adelaide Cup winners in Whippy’s Image in 2008 and El Galo in 2009 and Aqua Cheetah didn’t disappoint on the big stage Friday night.
Local champion Worm Burner for Cameron Butcher and Weekend Binge for Kel Greenough were both sent out as the equal favourites but it was Aqua Cheetah who got the jump on his rivals as the boxes flew open. Worm Burner began better than expected from his inside box and was pushing through on the inside as a wall of four or five went to the first turn together. Aqua Cheetah accelerated and took control out the front straight however Worm Burner who looked like being positioned beautifully just behind the speed shifted out on the first turn causing trouble to most of his competitors and also cost himself many lengths. Weekend Binge dove back to the inside to chase out after the leader while Worm Burner balanced back up and set off after the leading pair. Dyna Boomer for Andrea Dailly who began very slowly on dispatch got a lovely run through on the first turn due to the interference and moved into fourth. Racing down the back straight Aqua Cheetah cleared out from his rivals running a blistering 16.64 of the back straight setting up a race winning break. Weekend Binge chased hard while Worm Burner out wide and Dyna Boomer on the rails both began making ground powerfully. Entering the front straight Aqua Cheetah was in no danger going on to win in a sizzling 29.41 for the 515m journey. He defeated Worm Burner by 2 lengths who flashed home for second and surely cost himself a chance at glory on the first turn while Dyna Boomer was able to charge home on the rails into third place one length away just ahead of a gallant Weekend Binge.
Aqua Cheetah is a son of Cosmic Rumble and Dalta Bale and with his outstanding win Friday night takes his career earnings close to $150,000 with a record of 12 wins and 11 placings from his 30 starts.
There is no doubt Aqua Cheetah looks a bright prospect in the making but one can’t help but think what might have been had local star Worm Burner got around the first turn better. With more Group racing coming up on the National stage its exciting times ahead for all greyhound fans.