Angle Park Preview - Thursday 2nd January 2020

02/01/2020
Racing News

Angle Park - January 2nd nominations

Nominations for tonight’s race meet have been noticeably impacted by the recent sustained spate of hotter temperatures in South Australia.

That downturn in nomination numbers has resulted in an 8 race card for tonight at Angle Park. It’s GRSA’s expectation that, with any reasonable run of weather, the Thursday night timeslot will quickly rebound to a full 10 race meeting.

TELLING THE TAIL

by The Shadow

We kick off the year with a strong 8 race programme and they certainly appear wide open on paper, it looks a night we can really concentrate on Trifectas and the First Fours, we have a strong staying event which is (race 4) good luck and let’s hope we can start with a bang in 2020.

Race 1 - Alfieri has been in outstanding form of late and with a moderate beginner on his inside should be able to lead and win, American Man is very strong and will be running on strongly as will Diamond Heart. Box Up 2.3.6.8

Race 2 - Local stud dog Worm Burner has sired 5 of the 9 Greyhounds listed here and his prodigy can nearly run the Trifecta, we will put Springvale Jorja on top as she looked very smart on her debut when 2nd behind Wood Worm in good time. Vontae Mack is well drawn and looks the improver along with Golly Gumdrops who is making her debut, add Right Exit for the First Four as she has been in the money in 8 of her 12 starts at this venue. Box Up 1.2.6.7

Race 3 - Regazzoni has returned to form with 3 strong wins here on the trot all in handy times he has been beginning well of late so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, Blastoise has been hit and miss of late and will be doing his best work late. Nirimba Pirate is better than recent form suggests and is worth putting in the First Four. Box Up 1.2.7.8

Race 4 - This is the distance affair and Zipping Galon made short work of them last start when winning by a huge margin on debut in 43.19 he should lead and do the same again in this, Sir Truculent has been getting a long way back in his races of late and will be rattling home late. Box Up 1.2.4.8

Race 5 - This certainly is a wide open affair and we will go with the newcomer in Mepunga Lock from Victoria, he has 4 wins and a placing from his 12 starts and should appreciate being in a lower grade, WestRock Outlaw has been racing well over the short and was placed here over this trip last start. Punk Star Rocks can add value to our First Four from her rails draw. Box Up 2.5.7.8.

Race 6 - Wooden Tiger was very impressive when winning here last start in a slick 29.64 he can be hit and miss on box rise but with a clear run early is very smart. Sols Buddy loves a wide draw and is normally very quick early he is more than capable when on song. Weblec Arrow is our value runner as she will be able to punch up early from the rails draw. Box Up 2.6.7.8

Race 7 - The inside 3 here look the main chances Tony’s Spark loves this draw and is our top pick he should be able to lead and win from the rails, Emmy Gray is better than form suggest she has won here in quick times in the past and is capable of a sharp improvement. Wild looking has been racing well over the short and is worth putting in our First Four along with What A Wish. Box Up 1.2.3.8

Race 8 - Lets hope we can go home on a winner with my Each-Way special of the night in Instantaneous out in box 8 he found early trouble here last start when 4th but was in terrific form prior he can go very close in this. Emerley Zero is a chance of running into the First Fours as is Spring Sniper. Box Up 1.6.7.8.

Best Bets

Race 4, No: 8 - Zipping Galon

Race 7, No: 1 - Tony's Spark

Best Each Way

Race 8, No: 8 - Instantaneous

Best Roughie

Race 1, No: 8 - Tornado Alley

The Man in the Tower gives his selections for tonight's super program of racing at Angle Park -

First 4 selections
Race 1: 2,7,3,8
Race 2: 2,7,3,5
Race 3: 8,1,2,4
Race 4: 1,8,4,2
Race 5: 8,7,2,5
Race 6: 6,8,4,1
Race 7: 2,4,1,5
Race 8: 2,8,7,6

Best Bets: Race 7, No. 2 - Emmy Gray

GRSA TEXT SERVICE
Participants are reminded if they have not already done so to provide GRSA with your mobile phone number so text messages can get sent updating the most current information in the industry.

LOCAL NEWS

Gawler Friday morning meeting transferred to Saturday morning

GRSA announces with an increase to the forecast temperature for the Gawler meeting tomorrow (03/01), the meeting has now been transferred to Saturday morning (04/01). Scratchings will close at 4pm tomorrow (03/12).

Trainers are free to scratch without penalty. Kenneling will be 8.15am to 9.00am. The first race will be 9.37am with the last of 12 at 12.14pm.

GRSA thanks the support of Sky, GGRC, staff and industry in support of this change.

GRSA during the warmer months of the year actively monitors the hot weather and is proactive in making changes to our racing program as required.

Murray Bridge Summer Derby and Oaks Finals on Sunday night

With the support of the Adelaide Greyhound Racing Club, Murray Bridge will conduct the SA Bred Summer Oaks and Derby Finals on Sunday night.

The heats for both finals were run on Sunday 22nd December at Murray Bridge with Kisses For Chloe winning the first heat of the Oaks Series for Ben Rawlings while Coorong Lucy took out the second for Cameron Butcher. In the Derby series it was Oakvale Elite who won the first heat for Nathan Wilson with Herculean winning the second heat for Rob Harnas. The Oaks final is race 5 on the program jumping at 6:32pm while the Derby final is race 6 and will jump at 6:52pm.

The series is for greyhounds whelped on or after 1st July, 2017 with the finals worth $4,135.

Adjustments to Industry returns from January 2020

With unprecedented change in the wagering market during 2019, GRSA has had cause to reforecast the financial position of the business. The wagering landscape has been affected by multiple factors including abnormally high yields (affecting turnover), intense competition spreading customer spend across multiple operators, continual erosion of pari-mutuel betting and softer broader economic conditions.

This has had an adverse effect on the returns to GRSA via the TAB. A bet placed through the TAB generates higher returns to GRSA compared to other operators and while TAB wagering on SA greyhound racing (including the G-SIX initiative) has remained relatively solid in the current year, the softening of wagering on interstate product through the TAB has been significant.

The completion of Tabcorp’s integration of the TAB and UBET businesses provides a strong opportunity to address the declining returns, however it is now the case that greyhound market share will reduce in FY21 which, in turn, will continue to place downward pressure on the returns from our exclusive wagering partner.

Having regard for this unexpected downturn in forecast wagering revenue, changes advertised on the GRSA website will be implemented as a direct response from 1 January 2020. In arriving at this approach, the Board and Management were keen to preserve baseline stakemoney levels across the various grades and categories of meeting.

Despite these changes, total returns to SA participants will still grow from $8.6 million to over $11 million in the current financial year.

Bargain Steel Centre SA Sprint Championship in January

Owners and Trainers are reminded of the domiciliary clause on the Bargain Steel Centre SA Sprint Championship coming up in January.

To be eligible a greyhound must have been domiciled in SA for a period of not less than 76 days out of the 150 days immediately prior to the time fixed for the finalising of nominations and drawing of fields. (Nationals policy adopted)

The date going back 76 days is 23rd October as nominations close on Monday, 6th January 2019.

The $5,545 heats are scheduled to be run on Thursday, 9th January, with the Final to be run on Thursday, 16th January. Total prizemoney for the listed final will be $22,000, with the winner’s share being $15,000.

• Nominations close on Monday, 6th January 2019 at 9.00am with GRSA.

John Gray Final in January

The time honored John Gray series will be held in January with $3,855 heats run on Thursday, 16th January and the $11,435 final on Thursday, 23rd January.

The series is for Grade 5 greyhounds over the 515m journey.

• Nominations close on Monday, 13th January 2019 at 9.00am with GRSA.

Mount Gambier Satisfactory Trials

Trainers are advised of a change to the booking of Satisfactory Trials at Mt. Gambier. Mt Gambier hold trials on Tuesday and Saturday mornings with Satisfactory trials ONLY being conducted on Tuesdays and need to be booked with Barry Shepheard from the Club on 0419 824 512.

At Race meetings Satisfactory trials can be done when less than 12 races. When there are 12 races these can be considered, however, the trainer will not be able to kennel and must take their greyhounds home straight after the trial. These race day trials will also need to be booked through Barry at the Club. GRSA administration staff will NOT accept these bookings and trainers will be directed to contact Barry Shepheard.

Time Graded and Pathway Events (For All Events)

The GRSA Racing Department wishes to advise of an update to the process of allocating reserves for Time Grading (worst-to-best) meetings. Currently the Time Grading methodology does not allow for the allocation of reserves to the majority of races, therefore increasing the likelihood of reduced field sizes.

Under the new methodology, greyhounds will be grouped into races according to their Time Rating, including the reserves:

• 8 greyhounds for G-SIX racing (6 in the field plus 2 reserves)

• 10 greyhounds for traditional 8 dog racing (8 in the field plus 2 reserves)

A random draw will then be conducted to determine the two reserve greyhounds.

If only one race then reserves as per Time Rating Rankings. This process is demonstrated in a table available on the GRSA website and Kennel Capers.

This change will be implemented for all Time Grading meetings from 1st January, 2020.

Changes to Mount Gambier Time Grading from January 2020

After consultation with industry and local participants from the Mt Gambier region GRSA will trial a Best to Worst format for the Mt Gambier Thursday meetings in January 2020. With 5 meetings in that month the normal Worst to Best meetings will be on 2^nd, 16^th and 30^th January. The Best to Worst format will be on 9^th and 23^rd January. GRSA has made this change to accommodate the strong support or nominations for this venue and attempting to give all greyhounds of all abilities the opportunity to compete.

Conditions for the Best to Worst meetings will be based on the greyhounds Time Rating. There will be a limit of 5 as to how fast a greyhound can be rated. Greyhounds rated 4.75 to 1 will not be eligible for this meeting but will be given preference into the Sunday meeting of that week so long as they nominate and there is a race available. Under this format GRSA will be able to include reserves for all races under the dissection of the grader. The more than 50% of fastest rated greyhound eligibility clause will not refer to Best to Worst Time Graded events.

Please contact the GRSA Grader for further information about Time Graded events.