2019 TAB ADELAIDE CUP – BOX DRAW
With exciting sprinter Hooked On Scotch for trainer Jason Thompson waiting for his seven other competitors in next weeks Group 1 TAB Adelaide Cup final after his brilliant win in last weeks State of Origin Match Race series, there were 5 outstanding heats conducted tonight at headquarters. In front of a strong school holiday crowd and in fine conditions the greyhound world’s attention turned to Angle Park to see who else would qualify for next Friday nights $107,500 feature.
The first heat saw impressive sprinter Whisky Riot for trainer Anthony Azzopardi explode out of box 2 to lead and from there was in no danger. Carving out sizzling sectionals in the lead of 4.41 and 16.78 he stopped the clock in a blistering 29.45 and stamped himself as a big player in next weeks final. He’s For Me for Jeff Britton did a good job from his wide draw to run second and qualify for next weeks final.
Locally owned and bred star sprinter Sennachie stepped out for trainer Steve White in heat 2 and accepted the challenge of Whisky Riot and showed that he meant business on the Angle Park loam. He sizzled early to the first turn and put the after burners on down the back straight before steaming home to stop the clock in a slick 29.35 with splits of 4.42 and 16.75 showing he is ready for next week.
The next heat was one of the more even fields of the night and it proved the case on the first turn when the racing was extremely tight but it was the locally owned and bred Weblec King for trainer Matt Lanigan who was able to work to the front and from there was able to keep his challengers at bay. On the back of his good performances in the SA Derby series he made the step up to open company in fine style running 29.70 with splits of 4.41 and 16.95.
The fourth heat saw trainer Anthony Azzopardi qualify his second runner for the Cup when Fernando’s Riot made full use of box 2 to spear to the front and give nothing else a chance. He flew around the Angle Park circuit in a sizzling 29.55 with splits of 4.45 and 16.90.
The final heat saw amazing performances by both SA owned Spring Bridge for trainer Jason Thompson and SA trained Cawbourne Terry for Tony Rasmussen who both came from the clouds to qualify for next weeks final. Race favourite Spring Bridge looked no chance of giving Thompson two runners in the final and join kennel mate Hooked On Scotch after beginning slowly away and worse than midfield on the rails.
However he sprouted wings along the inside as the run presented itself in the home straight and charged home to an amazing victory, with splits of 4.55 and 17.00 his overall of 29.61 showed just how fast he came home. Cawbourne Terry was just as impressive having his first look at the Angle Park circuit for Rasmussen he started one of the outsiders of the race and off the back straight he was midfield and needing to come wide and looked in a hopeless position. However he motored late taking a run in-between runners and flashing down the outside to just miss by half a length in scoring a huge upset. His time of 29.64 with splits of 4.52 and 16.93 was still good enough to claim a spot in next weeks Group 1.
The Group 1 TAB Adelaide Cup Final will be run next Friday 11th 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 8.38pm (SA time).
2019 Group 1 TAB Adelaide Cup Final
- Hooked On Scotch Jason Thompson
- Whisky Riot Anthony Azzopardi
- Sennachie Steve White
- Fernando’s Riot Anthony Azzopardi
- Weblec King Matt Lanigan
- Cawbourne Terry Tony Rasmussen
- Spring Bridge Jason Thompson
- He’s For Me Jeff Britton
- Oakvale Beauty (1st Res) Nathan Wilson
- Seal The Deal (2nd Res) Anthony Azzopardi
Also featured on the night will be the $11,435 Adelaide Cup Consolation for those greyhounds which did not qualify for the Cup final. Trainers are required to re-nominate for this event.
We will also have the $7,500 SA Country Cup final with greyhounds qualifying from Mt Gambier, Murray Bridge and Gawler and the $12,175 Premier’s Cup over the 731m for the stayers.
- Nominations for next Fridays meeting (11th October) close at 9am on Tuesday 8th October
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 TAB Adelaide Cup will gain maximum coverage to the wider community with all races being shown on Sky Racing 1 and makes for a wonderful start to next weekend.