Murray Bridge Cup Night - Preview
An outstanding card has been brought together as we celebrate the third running of the Daish Irrigation and Fodder Murray Bridge Cup. Some real quality throughout the night and it all bodes well for a super night.
This is a race-by-race preview to help you have a guide on each race and to hopefully find a couple of winners.
Race 1: Welcome To Cup Night 395m Maiden
We kick off the card with a maiden over the short trip. I think the market will get this race pretty right. Emmy Driven and Victa Florence did battle last week and were really even at the finish, these two should be the favourites. Victa Florence is probably the more reliable and honest one, she will be on speed and run a good race. Porridge Box which has drawn the 5 box is a very interesting runner, he is in an astute kennel and is first up in SA. He has shown zilch in his Victoria runs but he must have some ability, I think he will be one to follow in the future but couldn’t see him featuring Sunday Night. Fleurieu Flyer is one that has put in some nice runs and whilst box 8 isn’t the best, it should mean she is good odds. I think she can land near the speed and put in a good run.
Suggested Bet - Fleurieu Flyer (Box 8) - Place
Race 2: Razza Racing 395m Grade 6
There are a few ways you can look at this even race. Allinga Road is first up for 6 weeks, he is the fastest dog in the race but is very hit and miss. Box 1 will be a curse if he misses the start with a big 36kg dog on his outside. Reiko Houdini is very deserving of a win after some consistent runs, but this draw makes it very tricky. Danyo’s Shanks will be running a good race, he’s a dog in form and box 8 will be no worries, if he lands close to the speed, he will have a very good chance of winning. One that is a good chance to be long odds is Bella Blitz and she isn’t hopeless. She has only won 3 from 21 and has never seen the track but her last two runs have been really nice. She has a bit of strength on her side and if she can land close to the speed and then handle the turn, she will be right in the race.
Suggested Bet - Bella Blitz (Box 4) - Each Way
Race 3: Metro Roller Doors 395m Open Grade Feature Race
This race is a feature every cup night and it generally brings a very strong field together and this is no exception to that. Five dogs in this have a really strong chance which makes finding a winner difficult… The leader of the race is a newbie to this open grade and that is Allinga Grin, she is very fast early and is consistently breaking 5 seconds to the first split, which is flying. Her racing characteristics which may play a big hand in the race is that she gets wide on the turn and stays off the rail. I think this will cause issues for the dogs drawn outside of her and in turn leave the race open for Hukanui Lady and Force To Excel to battle out the finish. Force To Excel will jump better and if he can lead Hukanui Lady to the turn, I think he will be able to sneak away for a win.
Suggested Bet - Force To Excel (Box 3) - Win
Race 4: Kay Versari 395m Grade 5
We are likely to see one of the shorter price favourites for the night go around here with Weblec Whirl visiting from Victoria. Weblec Whirl is a high quality bitch and has won over $30,000 from her 23 starts. Whilst she will be short and deservedly so, she hasn’t raced on the track before and she seems to be a better two turn dog off her Victorian form. Flying Clarice will be a chance to cross and lead from the wide draw, but she will need to if she is to win. Runaway Lad is a really honest and consistent dog, and he will go well.
Suggested Bet - Runaway Lad (Box 4) - Each Way
Race 5: Pet Waggin 530m Open Grade Feature Race
A very strong field has been brought together for this longer trip. It takes a strong dog to run well over the 530m trip and this field has plenty of them. Gary’s Miracle looks one of the early leaders and it is very interesting placement from his trainer, opting to avoid the consolation of the cup over the 455m journey. He doesn’t strike me as a dog who will get the 530m trip but he is going super. Scatterbox who is coming over from Victoria is a very classy dog and I don’t think he is too badly boxed in four. I expect him to be up on speed early, and if this happens, I think he will win. The SA champ in Jack’s Well is also in the race, he has drawn pretty ordinary with box 8 in this full field, however the 530m trip will be right up his alley. Mister Harlewood is another classy dog in this field, he was not too long ago one of the best stayers in the country. He is going well but I am not sure where he lands early and he will need to avoid a wide runner in box 1. A ripping race.
Suggested Bet - Scatterbox (Box 4) - Win
Race 6: Daish Irrigation And Fodder Murray Bridge Cup Consolation 455m
A terrific field to do battle over the 455m trip. There are many ways you can look at this race, there's a few with good early speed. Sudden Force has drawn perfectly in box 1, he should lead the dogs in box 2 & 3, whilst box 4 is a wide winner. Sudden Force will give backers a good sight, however, may just lack a touch of class to win this. Major Havoc who has drawn box 4 is a dog in good form, he was very stiff to not make the final. He is strong and has been jumping well lately, but I think the dog drawn in box 5, Max Amigo is going to be a real issue for him as he wants to get to the fence and has good early speed. Cawbourne Boomer is another that was stiff to not make the final, he is a fast dog, but the box draw does him no favours, particularly as he isn’t quick early. I think the smoky and live chance to cross this field is Hali’s Girl, she is a bitch on the way up and whilst box 8 is tricky, if she pings like she did last run at Angle Park, she will cross these and win. She should be good odds as well.
Suggested Bet - Hali’s Girl (Box 8) - Win
Race 7: Rural City Of Murray Bridge 455m Grade 5
This race is very hard to line up, with two Victorian dogs in it, Sarcasmic and High Plain. Both of these are handy Victorian dogs and without being to the track before, I think they may struggle, although it is one of the easier grade 5s you can get. Coorong Cash was terrific last week, winning over this journey in nice time. He and Springvale Vixen looked to be the early speed in the race. I think they will open the door for the very strong Oakvale Blue, who is racing terrifically. If he gets half a clear run then I think he will be winning.
Suggested Bet - Oakvale Blue (Box 5) - Win
Race 8: Daish Irrigation And Fodder Murray Bridge Cup
The big one… and what a race. This box draw has made things very interesting. The fastest qualifier and the dog with the least experience in the race is Undercut. He was unbelievable last week, nearly breaking the first split record. Whilst box 2 might seem ok, I think it’s a bad draw for him. He is a wide runner, and he is generally a slow beginner, I can’t see him pinging the lids two weeks in a row and if he misses it, he will have a lot of pressure to deal with. Run Baba Run has drawn very well in box 1, she is guaranteed a clear run and she will be on speed early. I think the 455m sees her out and she will need a jam up behind to pinch a winning break. Weblec Ace has class on this field and has matched it with the best in the country. His only issue is that he lacks a touch of speed early and is drawn outside of Undercut, if he gets a clear run, he will go mighty close. Danyo’s Wylie who has drawn wide will be applying plenty of pressure early with his speed, however he will also need a jam up behind to pinch a winning break. My tip for the race is Air Marshall. He won his heat in very fast time and has the early speed to get in the race early. A winner of 27 from 49 starts, he has the experience to deal with the pressure of a hot final. It’s an awesome race and a highly anticipated one at that. Goodluck to all and hopefully we have a safe trip.
Suggested Bet - Air Marshall (Box 4) - Win
Race 9: Kurt Donsburg Photography 455m Grade 3/4/5
A race with only three chances for me. Allinga Ollie who is the best graded dog in the race steps back up to the 455m trip. He has been making ground over the 395m journey lately. He lacks the class of the other two favourites in the race, but he will give a sight. Max Dynamo has had a few runs now in SA and has been impressive. His first splits are very good and will see him just about lead this. Spring Vinnie has always been a fast dog and this preparation has been awesome. He nearly broke the track record 2 runs back, but last start he missed the kick and had no luck. He is the quickest dog in the race and box 7 is no issue for him. I think he shows his class here and will prove too fast.
Suggested Bet - Spring Vinnie (Box 7) - Win
Race 10: Greyhounds As Pets 455m Grade 6
Another interesting line up with a couple of chances in this race. Victa Buzz drawn in box 8 is a very nice bitch and has a big future, she will make her presence felt early and can find the lead. The last 50m will be the query as she has only had 3 runs back this prep. Burn The Box is a dog who is going very nicely, he wants to stay wide so he will be hoping that Victa Buzz doesn’t pester him early. The only other dog with a real chance is Oakvale Impact, he ran a ripper last week and is a very strong dog. If he can stay within touch of the leaders approaching the turn, he will be a huge hope.
Suggested Bet - Oakvale Impact (Box 4) - Each Way
Race 11: CFS 395m Grade 4/5
This is another race with 4 main chances. Dr. Puma is a good dog who can reel off a hot early split, he is well drawn in the red box and will go very nicely. Major Minter is another very handy Victorian dog who has good speed. He can run and has a bit of class but his issue, like others on the card will be that it’s his first look at the track, although I expect him to handle it ok. Victa Caleb is a chance, he is an old dog but is still racing well. He needs to lead to win, but he is capable of that in this field. Almighty Stripe went around in a heat of the cup last start, he is a good dog that has been tearing it up at Mount Gambier. I thought he should have run down the leader 3 starts back at this track/trip and then last week I thought he was a touch plain, so I have a query on him.
Suggested Bet - Dr. Puma (Box 1) - Win
Race 12: Sky Racing 395m Grade 5
The last on a monster card... And it is not easy. Sugar Ray Prince is a dog who can run but is having his first look at the track. I think he gets burnt off early in this race. Opal Model is a mini torpedo when she nails the start, which she does more times than not. She only weighs 23kg, but that doesn’t hold her back. She will run off on the home turn, but I think she can pinch a break on these and be pretty hard to run down due to her sheer speed. The other main hope in this race is Mystic Rose, she is a classy dog and has been running in FFA grade over the Cranbourne 311m trip. Not sure what to expect from her first up on the track, I think Opal Model can clear her early and I think this would be the race. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mystic Rose win.
Suggested Bet - Opal Model (Box 5) - Win
Best bets -
R6 - Hali’s Girl (Box 8) - Win
R7 - Oakvale Blue (Box 5) - Win
R11 - Dr. Puma (Box 1) - Win