Contact

  • Thursday, 02 Jul, 2015,
  • by Matt Jackson

North-East Wrap: Bendigo Cup heads Feature Race Bonanza

Welcome along to this week’s edition of the North East Weekly Wrap, which was highlighted by the breathtaking heat win of Fernando Bale in Sunday Night’s Bendigo Cup.

The week kicked off last Friday (June 26) where four semis of the GRV Vic Breeders were conducted. In the first semi the clear favourite was the Brooke Ennis trained Heard It Before (6), but he stumbled at the start and was never a winning hope. On the other hand, Select Daniel (7) bounced straight to the lead and never looked like losing, winning easily powering clear in the home straight to record a good time of 24.13.Finishing second was Miss Capone (3), who tried hard to go with the winner but was no match, and third in was Phil Miyoot (1), and the favourite finished strongly to run fourth (Replay).

The second semi-final saw the very speedy Argenta (1) lead all the way. She didn’t begin brilliantly but as soon as she hit the deck she accelerated wonderfully well to lead clearly at the first corner. Up to the turn Zachie Dude (5) had got through near the rail and was closing quickly, but in the straight Argenta found something and bounded away for an impressive win in front of Zachie Dude, who just didn’t quite finish it off the last bit. Third was Boloney World (10), who finished off strongly along the fence, while close up behind them was the favourite Unlawful Entry (4), who was slow out and never got into it at all (Replay).

Over to semi number three and it looked a race in three between Boloney Club (1), Ring The Bell (6) and Hot Patootie (7). Boloney Club, who had the good draw, hopped out very swiftly to bounce straight to the front, and he pinched a break early on his main dangers. Ring The Bell was able to work across into third on the first turn and quickly set out after the leader, who had opened up a good break. Ring The Bell did finish strongly, but Boloney Club was able to cling on and score ahead of the Ring The Bell and Smokester, who made nice ground late. The other fave, Hot Patootie was in a striking place coming to the turn but got pushed wide and lost all momentum (Replay).

In the last semi we saw the biggest upset of the series thus far, when Dr Shiki (3) scored at $34 on Super-Tab. Bouncing fairly, he was able to push through to the first turn where he found the lead, and he kicked away and held that break all the way home to defeat Crave (4), who lead early but was no match for the winner, and back in third was the favourite Deadly Pace (5), who had little luck at a vital stage but finished it off well (Replay). It should be a wonderful final this Friday night, to complement the Bendigo Cup.
.
Bendigo Friday Results & Replays: Click Here
.
$10,710 GRV VBIS Maiden Final Formguide: Click Here

.
.

On to Sunday (June 28) where we kicked off a big day of Greyhound Racing with the Puppy Championship Final up the straight at Healesville. Favourite for the race was Zoltina’s Legacy (4), who began only fair but got clear running early and he sprinted through to lead. He kicked away mid-race, while Dozer Tron (7) was starting to wind up strongly and made ground fast, but Zoltina’s Legacy held a margin and was too fast, while third in was Sheoak Blue Boy (8), who was no match for the top two. Close up behind them was Make Us Magic (3), who is racing well at present (Replay).

On a good day of racing other strong winners included Shot Of Cain in Race 2, Soldier Spy in Race 7 and in the last race Direct Hit.
.
Healesville Sunday Results & Replays: Click Here
.
.

Sunday Night we headed to Bendigo once again for eight cracking heats of the Southern Cross Ten Bendigo Cup. All eyes focused in on Heat Six and the champion dog Fernando Bale, who is transcending the sport, and he didn’t disappoint. Jumping brilliantly from the inside, he lead as he just about always does, then exploded away to stop the clock in 23.38, which eclipsed the previous track record of 23.41 of Black Magic Opal. It was quite an astonishing performance with it being his first look at the track, and provided nothing untoward happens he should be winning the Cup this Friday Night and make it 15 wins on the fly. He truly is something out of this world and if you can it, it would be worth getting trackside to see him strut his stuff (Replay).

Some wonderful heats were run with a couple of upsets and some future stars winning their way through to the Cup Final. Paua To Roar for Anthony Azzopardi took out heat one, beating Shepp Cup hero Azza Azza Azza. Fearless John, at huge odds in heat two, upset Allen Deed, who certainly was unlucky after a slow beginning. In heat three Billo’s Pick, who is a rising star, was able to beat Melbourne Cup champ Dyna Villa for early pace and then hold him off. The fourth heat belonged to Shared Equity, who ripped out from Box 7, pinging to the lead and never being threatened. The fifth heat was the most competitive, with Breathing Fire just being able to hold off Sapphire Crown winner Lamia Bale in a thrilling finish to give Kel Greenough two runners into the final. Heat seven saw Ronray Spirit win his way through to his fifth country cup final this year and another crack at the $50,000 Triple Country Cups Bonus by holding off Horsham Cup winner Margins. In the final heat Mepunga Armagh (pictured) was able to finish strongly claiming the last spot in the Cup final for Jeff Britton. It shapes up as one of the great Bendigo Cup but no doubt Fernando Bale will be an almost unbackable favourite.
.
Bendigo Sunday Results & Replays: Click Here
.
Southern Cross Ten Bendigo Cup Formguide: Click Here

.
.
Monday night (June 29) at Shepparton finished off the week in the North East where we saw a couple of standout performers. Race 5 saw two future stars do battle in Blazin Bomber and Zipping Chubbz. Zipping Chubbz led early but Blazin Bomber wore him down and maintained his perfect record, as he has now won all four starts.

The other standout performance was from Hogganaught in Race 8, who jumped fast and never looked like losing, winning in a fast 25.27 and making it a winning hat-trick. All three greyhounds can go on and win much better races.
.
Shepparton Monday Results & Replays: Click Here
.
.
So that wraps a wonderful week of Greyhound racing in the North. There’ll be a preview on Friday for the Bendigo Cup and Fernando Bale’s quest for another big race win. Until then Good Luck and Good Punting.
.
[youtube youtubeurl=”1Iid9YXjN7w” ][/youtube]Watch: Zoltina’s Legacy (4) wins the Healesville Puppy Championship last Sunday.
[divider] [/divider]
Related

Stars out as Ready 2 Race Mid Year Bonus Race is Reshuffled

Bendigo Cup Video Preview: Is Fernando Bale the Best Ever?


Market Update: Win a $200 TAB Voucher without even placing a Bet

 

Matt JacksonMatt Jackson

Matt Jackson

Matthew Jackson has 3 years experience Race Calling with RSN calling all 3 codes all across Victoria. I currently race a number of Thoroughbreds also but have a strong passion for Greyhound Racing. (The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of GRV)

Up Next

Sandown Park Preview: Bling on the McKenna Heats

Five cracking heats of the McKenna Memorial (595m) and a $20,000 Jackpot Quaddie at Sandown Park, along with the Group 1 Winter Cup in Brisbane highlight a great night of racing on Thursday.

Newsletter Signup