The all-important box draw for Saturday night’s $429,000 Group 1 Australian Cup was broadcast live on 7Two’s Thrill of the Chase this morning, with connections of the eight contenders on track at The Meadows for the occasion.
Interestingly, the three most accomplished group performers in the final – Tommy Shelby, Tiggerlong Tonk and Christo Bale – all draw awkwardly in boxes 4, 7 & 8 respectively, throwing the race wide open.
Moments following the box draw TAB’s Trent Langskaill announced Tommy Shelby and Fernando Bluey as the equal favourites at $2.80, followed by Tiggerlong Tonk at $5.50, then Lakeview Cruiser and Shima Classic at $8.50 apiece.
In other highlights on today’s episode of ‘Thrill of the Chase’, Melbourne Storm champion Ryan Papenhuyzen was in the studio discussing his passion for greyhound racing, while there was also a feature story on popular Gippsland participant Matt Height.
EPISODE 02
Watch the immediate reactions of connections of the Australian Cup box draw at The Meadows this morning, plus Melbourne Storm champion Ryan Papenhuyzen, the incredible story of Matt Height and more.
$429,000 G1 TAB AUSTRALIAN CUP
Saturday 27 February – 525m
$300,000 (1st); $86,000 (2nd); $43,000 (3rd)
1 UTAH BLUES (Tim Britton, Lara VIC)
2 LAKEVIEW CRUISER (Harley Whelan, Metung VIC)
3 SHIMA CLASSIC (Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC)
4 TOMMY SHELBY (Steven Withers, Casuarina WA)
5 TYLER DURDEN (Jeffrey Britton, Anakie VIC)
6 FERNANDO BLUEY (Kayla Cottrell, Pearcedale VIC)
7 TIGGERLONG TONK (Correy Grenfell, Anakie VIC)
8 CHRISTO BALE (Mark Delbridge, Balliang VIC)
Reserves
9 MEPUNGA FELIX (Jeffrey Britton, Anakie VIC)
10 WOW (Karina Britton, Ambarvale NSW)
AUSTRALIAN CUP HEAT WINNERS
(Fastest to slowest)
29.51sec TOMMY SHELBY
29.66sec TYLER DURDEN
29.74sec TIGGERLONG TONK
29.74sec LAKEVIEW CRUISER
29.75sec CHRISTO BALE
29.76sec SHIMA CLASSIC
29.77sec FERNANDO BLUEY
30.05sec UTAH BLUES
Thrill of the Chase returns to 7Two live from The Meadows on Saturday night from 9pm to broadcast the finals of the Group 1 Australian Cup (525m) and Group 1 Fanta Bale Super Stayers (725m).
More TOTC at https://www.grv.org.au/thrill-of-the-chase
