Daily Mail: Hank aiming to be the top dog

Due to the scratching of hot favourite Mepunga Ruby, The Watchdog is now tipping Hank The Hustler (4 from 8 Trk/Dst) to claim tonight’s $35,500 G3 Top Cat Video Cup final (725m) at The Meadows.

The G3 Fireball winner will face a stern test from G3 Lizrene Speed Star champion Five Star (42.41sec PB) who was the quickest of the three heat winners last Saturday.

G1 winner Here’s Tears (23 from 75) and potential topliner Gypsy Wyong (10 from 18 – 5 from 6 Box 2) must be highly considered as well.

In the 525m Free For All, Fernando Bluey (22 from 40 – won last 4) races at The Meadows on a Saturday night for the first time since finishing second to Tommy Shelby in February’s G1 Australian Cup.

Multiple Group finalists Fabriola Zad (29.78sec PB) and Earn The Answers (4 of last 5) plus G3 Cranbourne Classic winner Lala Kiwi (11 from 27) will provide stiff opposition.

G1 finalist Hill Top Jack (14 from 35) won by almost 15 lengths at Sandown Park on Monday over 595m and is expected to prevail along with four-time Group finalist Mepunga Warrior (4 from 6 Box 1).

Isolating (8 from 14) v dual G3 finalist Keep It Black (29.86sec PB) v Call Me Buster (7 from 18) v Invictus Rising (9 from 23) should provide a stirring battle in the 525m Grade 5 final.

At Cranbourne, The Horizon finalist Whistling Bullet and Mt. View Audrey (4 of last 6) appear to have the class edge on their rivals, while Nova’s Way (4 from 6) will aim to continue her ascent.

Here’s an extensive analysis of today’s Must Watch Race, and be sure to scroll down further for The Watchdog’s $10 spend…

MUST-WATCH RACE: Group 3 Top Cat Video Cup Final

GYPSY WYONG HANK THE HUSTLER HERE’S TEARS FIVE STAR

The Meadows Race 8 725m 6:38pm

Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538954/race/8

The Watchdog says : It’s a shame that a couple of the ‘big guns’ have been scratched but we still have an elite line-up going around and big HANK THE HUSTLER (4) looks poised to add another feature event to his CV. He was dominant in his brilliant 42.73sec heat win last Saturday and with the abundance of early pace drawn inside, he should get a nice run through mid-race and be there to strike as they reach the business end. FIVE STAR (6) burst onto the staying scene in May/June and looked as though he was going to take the racing world by storm, however after an unsuccessful campaign in Queensland, he appeared to be lacking confidence. He announced to racing fans that he was back to his best last Saturday and he is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the coming months. After a good beginning, he dialled up the pressure mid race before roaring to the line in a blistering 42.41sec. A repeat of that would see him win again, however the box draw is a slight concern tonight, so he cannot afford to make any mistakes in the initial stages. All star HERE’S TEARS (5) should now be at peak fitness after two runs from a spell and he has the potential to cause a boil over. He is no stranger to Group race glory, and he is capable leading or coming from off the pace in his races. GYPSY WYONG (2) is the interesting runner, she set a cracking pace before getting tired in her staying debut last week. I would expect her to derive a lot of benefit from that run and she may hit the line a little better tonight. It should be a keenly contested event throughout and cannot wait to see it unfold.

Selections: 4 – 6 – 5 – 2

THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT
Saturday 11 September

$3 Multi

First : Bundle Bet – 1,3,4,8
The Meadows Race 1 Boxes 1,3,4,8 525m 4:18pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.14 (Any one of the four selections to win)
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538954/race/1

Second : Bundle Bet – 1,2,3,4,6
The Meadows Race 2 Boxes 1,2,3,4 & 6 525m 4:34pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.16 (Any one of the five selections to win)
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538954/race/2

Third : Bundle Bet – 1,2,3,4,5
The Meadows Race 10 Boxes 1,2,3,4 & 5 525m 7:21pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.28 (Any one of the five selections to win)
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538954/race/10

Fourth : Bundle Bet – 1,2,4 & 6
The Meadows Race 12 Boxes 1,2,4 & 6 525m 7:58pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.43 (Any one of the four selections to win)
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538954/race/12

The Watchdog says : I think the inside division will dominate Race 1, however we have included the strong GYPSY URANA (8) just in case she settles close to the speed. SODA SAVILLE (3) looks good in Race 2, however he can move wide soon after box rise, so we have included some runners at value just to be safe. FANTASTIC RAVEN (6) is a jet but is poorly drawn in Race 10, so we have taken her on, whilst BROTHER BEARING (4) has the class edge in Race 12 but because of the bad draw, we have gone a little wider to be safe.

Multi price: $2.42

$1 Exacta – 4 / 7 (100%)
$1 Exacta – 4 / 3,6 (50%)
The Meadows Race 4 600m 5:22pm
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538954/race/4

The Watchdog says : HILL TOP JACK (4) has been enormous in recent months, and he was brilliant when stepping up to the middle distance journey at Sandown Park last Sunday. He should be able to pounce on the lead and score with ease today. GRACLYN BALE (7) looks the danger, so we have taken her for a higher percentage in the exacta. JUST WINS BOSS (3) and STAR BLAZER (6) are both well over the odds and are more than capable, so we have taken a saver for a smaller percentage with those two runners.

$2 Win – KEEP IT BLACK
$1 Win – CALL ME BUSTER Lucky Longshot
The Meadows Race 5 Boxes 3 & 4 525m 5:38pm
TAB fixed odds: $4.20 (Keep It Black)
TAB fixed odds: $8 (Call Me Buster)
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538954/race/5

The Watchdog says : ASTON LAVINIA (1) is expected to hold a prominent spot at the first bend and that should bring both KEEP IT BLACK (3) and CALL ME BUSTER (4) into contention. Both are extremely versatile in the fact that they can lead or come from off the pace in their races and if they can exit the first bend in the top three of four, they should be able to make their presence felt at the business end.

$2 Win – HANK THE HUSTLER
The Meadows Race 8 Box 4 725m 6:38pm Must Watch Race
TAB fixed odds: $2.80 Win
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538954/race/8

The Watchdog says : I am expecting the inside division to hold the lead through the first turn and that should allow ‘Hank’ to get a nice run through and settle in the top three or four as they go past the post the first time. He is a much better stayer these days when he can get a sit initially and with a few of the front runners expected to get tired, he should be there to take advantage.