The official field is now complete for the inaugural $1.145m TAB The Phoenix (525m) – the world’s only slot race for greyhounds – to be held at The Meadows on Saturday 18 December.
SEN – the last of the eight slot holders to make its decision – announced Group 1 Melbourne Cup hero Koblenz, trained by David Geall, as its selection on SENTrack yesterday.
Koblenz landed a $500,000 first prize in the Melbourne Cup. A winner of 26 from 39, including nine of his past 10. He also won the G2 Cranbourne Cup.
Eight slot holders paid $75,000 each for a chance to win a mouth-watering $750,000 first prize!
Leviathan SA breeder-owner Ray Borda secured a slot with his superstar Aston Rupee, winner of a $150,000 first prize in the G1 Topgun, who is the likely favourite for the race.
2021 TAB PHOENIX FIELD
The eight contenders & their slot holders
(alphabetical order)
ASTON RUPEE: Ray Borda
BILLY CREEK: NSW GBOTA
JUNGLE DEUCE: GRNSW
KOBLENZ: Sports Entertainment Network
SPOTTED ELK: Racing Queensland
TRUE COLLINDA: TAB
VICE GRIP: The Dogs WA
WOW SHE’S FAST: Sportsbet
Click HERE for TAB’s pre-box draw market for the TAB Phoenix
Arguably Australia’s No. 1 sprinter, Aston Rupee – a winner of 19 from 33, including eight of his past 10 – was also a finalist in the G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Adelaide Cup.
However, the other seven slot holders comprise an eclectic mix of sports/betting behemoths and interstate greyhound racing clubs – all in unison to promote the innovative concept.
TAB partnered with top trainer Jason Thompson and will be represented by True Collinda – a recent sizzling 29.17sec winner at Sandown Park.
Sportsbet has acquired the services of the Jacqueline Greenough-trained wunderkind Wow She’s Fast who epitomises her racing moniker. She’s won four from six, including an ultra-fast 29.09sec at Sandown Park on debut.
Greyhound Racing New South Wales teamed up with the Daily Telegraph to launch ‘The People’s Pup’, with the public voting to select GRNSW’s representative.
LIVE BOX DRAW – SUNDAY 2PM
The box draw for the inaugural TAB Phoenix will be conducted live on ‘Thrill of the Chase’ on 7Two & The Watchdog app, with connections having the opportunity to strategically select their preferred boxes.
And that greyhound is the Raymond Smith-trained star Jungle Deuce – a winner of 18 from 33, including a G2 and G3, and a recent Topgun finalist.
Meanwhile, the NSW GBOTA introduced a ‘Flight to the Phoenix’ series which was taken out by the Ian Gilders-trained Billy Creek – a ‘bush hero’ who has won 10 from 22.
Racing Queensland created a new race – ‘The Flame’ – a $25,000 to-the-winner Listed event which went to Spotted Elk, trained by Graham Hall.
Spotted Elk, a winner of 16 from 32, was a recent runner up in the G2 Ipswich Gold Cup.
And The Dogs WA conducted a ‘Road to the Phoenix’ series culminating in a two-dog match race won by the Adam Smithson-trained Vice Grip.
A winner of 24 from 58, Vice Grip took out the G2 WA All Stars in late October.
