The winter racing action kicks up a notch at Lord’s Raceway from 3pm on Friday afternoon when the Jarrod Larkin Concreting Gold Rush Maiden and Grays Bendigo Stayers Cup highlight an outstanding card of greyhound racing.
Some exciting young prospects line up in the Gold Rush Maiden final chasing $10,000 to the winner with the three most impressive heat performers drawing alongside each other in the middle boxes.
Prepost favourite Music Event will exit box four after a sizzling 23.62 heat win, Zipping Albert carries the yellow vest qualifying in 23.77 while local hope Lalina, a slick 23.73 heat winner has drawn box six. Music Event and Lalina carved out identical fast first sections of 6.42 and on stats alone look the leading pair with Zipping Albert set to stalk the two speedsters in the run to the first turn.
Music Event’s trainer Mick Carter is looking to secure his first Gold Rush Maiden trophy while the other two main contenders have connections looking for their second. Dallas Massina claimed the Gold Rush mantle in 2016 with Nallak, the dam of Lalina while NSW breeders and owners Marty and Fiona Hallinan are looking to go back to back in the event after Zipping Magda saluted last year.
G1 Sandown Cup winner Rajasthan will take on a sensational field that includes group-class superstars Blazing Cartier and Tauwitchere. But who has The Watchdog tipped? FORM GUIDE
As in all feature race finals luck plays a part but in particular in maiden events and it while it will be a case of who does the most right and gets the breaks will probably win it is expected that the winner will come from that trio.
The $12,000 to the winner Grays Bendigo Stayers Cup has brought together one of the best fields of stayers to contest an event Bendigo in recent times. Blazing Cartier, Tauwitchere, Rajasthan and Zipping Clifford have contested no less than fifteen group races between them, with Rajasthan a group 1 winner (2019 Sandown Cup), Tauwitchere a group 2 winner (2019 Lauching Pad) and Blazing Cartier group 1 placed (3rd in Zoom Top).
Add former NSW stayer and half sister to Blazing Cartier, Look Fancy Nancy, up and comer Easy Choice, winner of seven from fifteen to date and Weblec Haze to the line up and it is a 660m race for the ages with the eight runners having banked just shy of $1million in stake money.
The two feature events are outstanding races but they are not alone on the twelve race card. The Hip Pocket Bendigo 425m sprint sees Bendigo track record holder Jim Zarr Dashian (box 5) return to Bendigo in a final hit out before the Bendigo Cup but will need to be at his very best to defeat a Cup quality line up that includes Midnight Monarch, Paua Of Oscar and Aston Peroni.
Bendigo’s 425m track record holder Jim Zarr Dashian takes on Warragul track record holder Paua Of Oscar and Healesville Derby winner Midnight Monarch. FORM GUIDE
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