Donning the ‘Big V’ is one of the highest honours in any of our sporting codes.
So, it’s high stakes when the state finals of the National Sprint Championship (515m) and National Distance Championship (715m) are decided at Sandown Park on Thursday night.
And it’s “Team Dailly” who holds the whip hand in the NSC state final and has an undeniable chance in the NDC state final. Both events carry a $12,000 first prize.
They’ll launch a triple challenge in the Sprint final (Race 8, 8.37pm) with G1 Silver Chief winner Zippy Tesla (Box 1), G1 Maturity Classic runner-up Dusty Bourbski (Box 2) and dual G1 finalist Zara’s Ivan (Box 5), while in the Distance final (Race 7, 8.13pm) – a Best 8 event – it’s a dual threat with four-time G1-winning ‘distance diva’ Gypsy Wyong (Box 1) and triple G1 finalist Drako Bale (Box 8).
In last week’s NSC state heats, the Daillys ‘terrific trio’ were all victorious – Dusty Bourbski (29.38sec), Zippy Tesla (29.42sec) and Zara’s Ivan (29.57sec).
G1 Sapphire Crown finalist Vayda Bale (29.46sec) – prepared by Samantha Grenfell – was the other heat winner. Grenfell also qualified Usman Bale (Box 4) for the state final after he finished second, beaten 1.3L, to Zippy Tesla.
Click HERE for TAB’s latest market
And it’s Zippy Tesla ($2.40) which heads TAB’s NSC state final fixed odds market from Dusty Bourbski ($2.80), Photo Man ($4.80) and Zara’s Ivan ($7), with the other four finalists at double-figure odds.
Meanwhile, Jarick Bale ($2.40) is on the first line of NDC state final betting ahead of Collinda Lady ($4.20), Gypsy Wyong ($5.50), Drako Bale ($7) and Moraine Suzie ($8).
Pawnote: Only one Victorian representative from each state final will proceed to the NSC-NDC ‘grand finals’ – both carrying a $75,000 winner’s purse – at Wentworth Park on August 27.
WATCH: DUSTY BOURBSKI (B2) establishes the NSC state heats time standard – 29.38sec.
