The popular Group 3 Bill Collins Speed Star (515m) returns this Thursday night at Sandown Park with total prizemoney of $77,000 up for grabs.
Four two-dog match races worth $10,000 to-the-winner will commence Premier Racing at Sandown Park and the fastest overall greyhound from the four matches will also claim the $15,000 first prize.
The two fastest greyhounds at Sandown Park this year that are still racing (Aston Rupee has retired) will clash in the fourth and final match race (Race 4, 6:42pm).
Click HERE for TAB’s latest Bill Collins Speed Star overall winner market
Big Opal Rocks – a winner in 29.02 seconds on March 10 – drops back from the 595m trip last Sunday in his duel with TAB Phoenix champion Wow She’s Fast.
The latest greyhound to pass $1 million in prizemoney confirmed her status as the fastest female greyhound ever at Sandown Park clocking 28.82 seconds in her amazing Group 1 Sapphire Crown triumph last Thursday night.
The first match race (Race 1, 6:09pm) pits McInerney – an impressive winner at Sandown Park three starts back – against last Thursday night’s Group 1 Harrison-Dawson champion Rapaki Rocks.
Group 3 finalists Dusty Bourbski and Security Man clash in the second match race (Race 2, 6:19pm), while the in-form Aston Tango lines up against Group 1 Sapphire Crown finalist Levitation in the third match race (Race 3, 6:31pm).
KEY TIMES
6:09pm McInerney v Rapaki Rocks (Race 1)
6:19pm Dusty Bourbski v Security Man (Race 2)
6:31pm Aston Tango v Levitation (Race 3)
6:42pm Big Opal Rocks v Wow She’s Fast (Race 4)
9:28pm Last race (Race 12)
Unlike previous editions of the Speed Star at Sandown Park, there will not be an event over 595 metres (Group 3 Racecallers) and 715 metres (Group 3 Lizrene) due to clashes with the national greyhound calendar.
There is also a change to the appearance of the match races for betting purposes:
- Each match race has its own race number as opposed to one overall Speed Star event encompassing all four match races (i.e. Race 1 is the first match race, Race 2 is the second match race, etc.)
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
– Comprehensive live coverage on Sky Racing, watchdog.grv.org.au and via The Watchdog app.
– Behind the scenes Twitter coverage with ‘@WatchDogRacing’.
– Regular updates with Trent Langskaill on RSN Racing and Sport (927 AM).
– ‘The Lids Fly’ on SEN Track (1593 AM) from 6-10pm.
In previous editions of the Speed Star, whether it be at Sandown Park or The Meadows, one race number (Race 9 for example) would be used for a Speed Star event, and the four match races would be housed in the race number provided (i.e. 1 vs 2, 3 vs 4, 5 vs 6 and 7 vs 8).
The prior betting formation would allow traditional pari-mutuel betting to occur with punters backing a greyhound or greyhounds to finish first, second or third based on the overall standings, which would also form the result for exotic bet types (quinella, trifecta, first four).
Now, punters will simply be able to back a greyhound to win a match race without the potential confusion of betting in an event which lists greyhounds in the usual one-to-eight format.
A TAB market is available on the greyhound that runs the quickest time overall, but it is now regarded as an ‘extra’ market, which will allow pari-mutuel punters to bet on the three remaining match races once the first match takes place.
Previously, pari-mutuel betting closed on all four match races for a Speed Star event when the first match commenced.
Match Race 1, Thursday 6:09pm
McINERNEY [Box 1] (Blake Pursell, Brighton TAS)
vs RAPAKI ROCKS [Box 3] (Mario Briganti, Devon Meadows VIC)
Click HERE for TAB’s latest Bill Collins Speed Star Match Race 1 market
Match Race 2, Thursday 6:19pm
DUSTY BOURBSKI [Box 1] (Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC)
vs SECURITY MAN [Box 3] (Colleen Mason, Neerim South VIC)
Click HERE for TAB’s latest Bill Collins Speed Star Match Race 2 market
Match Race 3, Thursday 6:31pm
ASTON TANGO [Box 1] (Michelle Mallia, Avalon VIC)
vs LEVITATION [Box 3] (Jackie Greenough, Pearcedale VIC)
Click HERE for TAB’s latest Bill Collins Speed Star Match Race 3 market
Match Race 4, Thursday 6:42pm
BIG OPAL ROCKS [Box 1] (Mario Briganti, Devon Meadows VIC)
vs WOW SHE’S FAST [Box 3] (Jackie Greenough, Pearcedale VIC)
Click HERE for TAB’s latest Bill Collins Speed Star Match Race 4 market
BILL COLLINS SPEED STAR QUALIFYING TIMES
(fastest to slowest)
28.82sec Wow She’s Fast (May 19) 
29.02sec Big Opal Rocks (March 10)
29.06sec Levitation (May 13)
29.12sec Aston Tango (May 12)
29.22sec Security Man (May 12)
29.23sec Dusty Bourbski (April 7)
29.24sec McInerney (May 5)
29.24sec Rapaki Rocks (May 13)
