Revelation Rapaki Rocks ‘rocked’ Sandown Park tonight with a sizzling 29.24sec win in a Group 1 Harrison-Dawson heat (515m).
Trained at Devon Meadows by Mario Briganti, Rapaki Rocks ($11.00) was considered a second-string to his litter brother, Big Opal Rocks, in the series.
But he deservedly earned sibling bragging rights snaring his fifth win from 17 starts, including three from four over this track/distance.
It was a nice consolation for Briganti considering Big Opal Rocks – second elect at $5.00 in ‘All In’ betting – failed to qualify for next week’s $100,000 to-the-winner final after finishing sixth in his heat. Incredibly, Rapaki Rocks was at a $34 nominal quote.
Rapaki Rocks defeated the Samantha Grenfell-trained Nikoli Bale. Samantha will rug two finalists as Kinson Bale was also one of the three fastest second placegetters.
Samantha’s husband, Correy, has won the Harrison-Dawson twice – Orson Allen (2019) and Tiggerlong Tonk (2021).
Heat winners
(fastest to slowest)
- Rapaki Rocks – 29.24sec
- King Of Calypso – 29.38sec
- Fearless Max – 29.38sec
- Titan Blazer – 29.51sec
- Bang – 29.70sec
VIDEO REPLAYS
Other highlights to emerge from Friday night’s heats included:
- Lara trainer Tim Britton finished third with Carry On Angel in last year’s Harrison-Dawson. But King Of Calypso – $34 in pre-post betting – gives him every chance of going a couple of rungs higher on the podium after his 29.38sec heat win. King Of Calypso ($9.20) – third in the G2 Launceston Cup in late January – notched his 22nd win from 73 starts. He’s 10 from 31 over this track/distance. Britton’s father, Rob, won the 2013 Harrison-Dawson with Clone Your Own.
- Rising star Fearless Max ($10.30) – prepared at Metung by Harley Whelan – was $201 in pre-post betting. But he dented some big reputations with a smart 29.38sec heat win. He registered his sixth win from 13 starts, including five on the trot. Whelan’s mother, Monique, finished fourth with Lakeview Walter in last year’s event.
- Highly underrated Titan Blazer – trained at Avalon by Rebecca Gibbons – could be the greyhound that breaks ‘Team Gibbons’ Group final ‘curse’ after he knocked off $4.20 pre-post favourite Amron Boy and Big Opal Rocks in 29.51sec in his heat. A dual G1 finalist, Titan Blazer ($2.90) was ‘backed for a stack’ and notched his 16th win from 38 starts. He was $34 in ‘All In’ betting.
Photos by Clint Anderson
