Perth Cup and Galaxy Preview

Posted on February 2, 2017February 3, 2017 | Posted by David Shortte

TABtouch Park Cannington plays host to some of Australia’s best Greyhounds on Saturday night when the finals of the Group 1 Sky Racing Perth Cup and Group 1 Sky Racing Galaxy are run.

The $150,000 to the Winner Cup has drawn together a very even sprint lineup with many winning chances while east coast stayers Bogie Bekim and Trip To Eden head up betting in the $100,000 to the Winner Galaxy over 715 metres.

As an added bonus for TABtouch customers there will be two bonus Superpicks – One for the Galaxy and one for the Perth Cup available on Saturday for on-line account holders.

Perth Cup TABtouch Fixed Odds Fluctuations (as at 1.00pm Thursday 2/2/17)

1. Equanimity $14 out to $15
2. Kid Kansas $9 out to $11
3. Single Sticka $6.50 into $4.60
4. Astrozone $4.20 into $3.40
5. Pepper Fire $4.40 out to $5
6. Starlight Asha $26 firm
7. Sassy Ginger $5.50 out to $6.50
8. Times Square $4.20 out to $4.60

RESERVES

9. Mendoza Monelli $6.50 in to $5
10. West On Maisie $26 firm

The Perth Cup field has assembled a very smart bunch of WA Sprinters with not much separating top to bottom. There is plenty of early speed with Equanimity (5.36), Pepper Fire (5.35) and Sassy Ginger (5.33) all running sub 5.40 splits to the first corner in their heat wins. Likely to be trailing them through the first corner are Kid Kansas (5.45), Single Sticka (5.46) and Times Square (5.50) while Astrozone (5.53) and Starlight Asha (5.57) may well sit back off them early.

I thought luck would play a big part in determining the winner but on an each way basis I like the chances of Single Sticka. Single Sticka was the fastest Qualifier when running 29.59 in his heat and from this draw has had 3 tries for 2 wins. He has a great record from inside boxes in general where he has won 9 of 15 from boxes 1-4. While he is not the best beginner he is very strong and given room to move through the first corner I expect him to be working into the race nicely down the back straight. At each way odds I thought he looked as good a chance as any.

Astrozone is a real up and comer in WA racing having won 12 of his 13 starts but many of those have been in easier grades and this is a genuine acid test for the dog. His 29.79 heat win was full of merit and he does hold the 29.56 track record. He is a marvellous talent but exactly where he gets to from this draw is the question. With a clear run he could be swallowing them up.

Times Square has had 10 starts from box 8 in her career for 7 wins and a placing and came from this draw last week when successful in 29.79 If Sassy Ginger pings and carves down to the fence like it did last week Times Square could potentially get a lovely cart over which would bring it right into the frame. Another of the key chances in a very open affair.

Pepper Fire is a very reliable beginner who can overcome the draw with her customary early zip. Has won her last 4 starts in impressive fashion and while she may be a little vulnerable late in the race if she can pinch a break mid-race might be able to nick it. Is yet to win from this draw after five attempts which is some query but is racing in grand style and is another that comes under serious consideration.

Enzo Crudeli’s trio of Equanimity, Kid Kansas and Sassy Ginger all won their heats well and can play a part with the right run while Starlight Asha has won 7 of her 10 starts in her career to date.

It is one of the most open Perth Cup fields I have seen in a long time but I am here to give an opinion and I’ve ended up with Single Sticka on top from Astrozone, Times Square and Pepper Fire.

Selections

3 – Single Sticka

4 – Astrozone

8 – Times Square

5 – Pepper Fire

Two East coast visitors who were runner-up in their heats, Trip To Eden and Bogie Bekim are favourites in the Group 1 Galaxy over the 715 metres.

Galaxy TABtouch Fixed Odds Fluctuations (as at 1.00pm Thursday 2/2/17)

1. Walt Bale $12 into $11
2. Flying Kayla $11 into $9
3. Tommy The Weapon $34 firm
4. Trip To Eden $2.60 out to $2.80
5. Woodvale Flyer $5.50 firm
6. Topology $6.50 out to $7.50
7. Big And Fast $91 into $71
8. Bogie Bekim$2.90 into $2.65

RESERVES

9. Ramifications $3.60 into $3.10
10. Zipping Bella $19 into $17

Let me start my preview of the Galaxy by declaring my hand that I have a share in the dog I am going to tip on top Woodvale Flyer. She had her first ever run over the 715 metres last week and was the fastest Qualifier running 42.17. Runner-up to her was Bogie Bekim who was beaten 2 lengths and ran 42.31. In the other heats Topology ran 42.51 beating Trip To Eden by 1.5 lengths (42.61) while Walt Bale ran 42.49 when beating Flying Kayla by a length who ran 42.57. The two other runners in the field were balloted into the race after race 9 was declared a no race last week. Tommy The Weapon is yet to run in a race over 715 metres at Cannington but has won at Wentworth Park over 720 metres in 42.68 while Big And Fast has a Personal Best time of 42.62 after 12 runs over the distance.

Perhaps I am a little biased but off her performance last week I think Woodvale Flyer can take some stopping in the Galaxy Final. She went around as a $16 chance in her heat and most expected Bogie Bekim and Ramifications who had drawn in boxes 1 and 2 to be too strong. In the early stages it was a line of three but through the first corner Woodvale Flyer headed the other duo and for the rest of the race Bogie Bekim and Ramifications did their best to run down the wide running daughter of Collision and Hot Irish. They had every chance to run down the leader but Woodvale Flyer kept on finding and on the line she was strong going on to win by 2 lengths. The draw should be ok in the final for her – in box 4 Trip To Eden was keen to chop down to the fence in its heat while Topology on her outside is happy to stay off the track a bit. If she begins and runs up to her effort last week she should be right in the finish at each way odds.

Bogie Bekim is a dog that deserves plenty of thought. Despite having his colours lowered at the hands of Woodvale Flyer last week he was only beaten 2 lengths and his win over this distance the week prior in a Best Of Night time of 42.12 was outstanding. He has had 7 tries from box 8 for 3 wins and 4 placings and prior to the defeat last week he had won 4 in a line in quick times over the longer trips. In-form, classy South Australian stayer who will take a stack of beating.

Trip To Eden is trained by one of Greyhound Racing’s greatest ever Conditioners in Jason Thompson. The dog was uncharacteristically slow out of the boxes in his heat before suffering interference and sticking on well to be beaten a length and a half. It was the Dogs first look at the Cannington circuit which he should derive great benefit from and he did win three straight races prior to arriving over middle distance and staying trips in Victoria at the Meadows, Shepparton and Sale. He looks a stayer on the rise and with normal racing luck will be right in the mix.

Topology did a great job to win it’s heat last week using plenty of the track in his 42.51 win over Trip To Eden. He has again drawn box 6 which shouldn’t pose too many issues and he has always shown above average ability. Trained by Gun mentor Paul Stuart who knows success in this race all too well after his journey with freak stayer Miata. Very consistent and looks a must for the novelties at the very least.

Of the others Walt Bale was very good in defeating Flying Kayla in its heat and has drawn well in box one while Flying Kayla has been a consistent placegetters since arriving in WA. Tommy The Weapon and Big And Fast will likely have to improve sharply on recent efforts to figure here.

I am sticking with Woodvale Flyer each way with plenty of respect for Bogie Bekim, Trip To Eden and Topology.

Selections

5 – Woodvale Flyer

8 – Bogie Bekim

4 – Trip To Eden

6 – Topology

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