Friday Night’s CKH Painting Shepparton Gold Cup (450m) has attracted a wonderful field with Jason Thompson holding the key to the race with three runners. Below are my thoughts on each finalist.
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2016 CKH PAINTING SHEPPARTON GOLD CUP
WHEN: FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY AT 9:28PM, DISTANCE: 450M
PRIZE MONEY: $47,000 (1ST); $13,350 (2ND), $6,650 (3RD)

1 ASTON BOLERO (Jason Thompson): Fastest heat winner in 25.07. He has drawn well here. Not the best of jumpers but he musters speed very quickly so the key for him will be getting a little clear running early. If he gets that he will be very tough to run down. He is the fixed odds favourite and he will be looking for his feature race win. HEAT REPLAY

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2 BIG TICKET (Steven Clarke): Runner-up in the 2016 Warragul Cup, it feels like he has been around forever. He was slow to begin in his heat but he was able to punch through to settle behind the leaders at the first turn in his heat win. He barged into the clear turning for home before powering home for a strong win. Drawn beautifully I think he has a terrific chance to win his first country cup. (Photo – Big Ticket (1) defeats Gotta Get Back in a thriller – Pic by Jade Media Photography). HEAT REPLAY

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3 LEGEND (Pia Triaca): The local hope in the race! An upset winner in his heat where he dazzled early running 6.42 to the first mark, which is humming. He has continued to get better and better but Friday Night’s race will be his toughest test to date by far. If he led he would give them something to chase but whether he could hold them off I have doubts about. It would be some story if he could win the race. HEAT REPLAY
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4 GOTTA GET BACK (John McClelland): He has always been an exceptional short course sprinter but his last two runs have proven he is just as adept out to the 450m. He was fast out in his heat but couldn’t quite hold off the finishing burst of Big Ticket. The issue will be that last 50m in this strong field but he is more than capable of winning. HEAT REPLAY

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5 PROVEN KODIAK (Mark Azzopardi): Racing at the peak of his powers. Prepared by Mark Azzopardi in Sydney he was terrific in his heat. He began fast from Box 5 to lead, but going into the first corner it looked like he got a shade lost and he lost ground quickly. He got balanced again turning for home where he finished strongly behind Aston Bolero. Taking benefit from that run, if he begins well he can run a big race again. A smoky. HEAT REPLAY

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6 DEWANA RESULT (Jason Thompson): An outstanding chaser who was awesome in his first run for Jason Thompson in his heat win. To my eye he looked like he’d had enough on the finish line so he should take good improvement from that run. Drawn perfectly for him, if he gets the breaks at the right time he will be very hard to beat. HEAT REPLAY

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7 BEARVILLE AZZA (Robert Britton): One of the outsiders in the race but not without a big hope. Placed in last year’s Hobart Thousand and fourth in the Melbourne Cup, he is armed with terrific early speed. If he manages to cross to the rail he would give the race a huge shake. He was a little unlucky at a critical stage in his heat and is certainly value at the $21 on TAB Fixed odds (as at 11.02.16). HEAT REPLAY

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8 DALGETTY (Jason Thompson): A brilliant young dog who won last year’s Geelong Cup. He overcame difficulties to win his Shepparton Cup heat in strong fashion and he should take improvement from that run as well. I’m not sure the outside draw suits him but if he pings and musters like he can it may not matter. In 6 to 12 months he might be something special. HEAT REPLAY

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RESERVES

9 DANCE CRAZE (Kevin Chivell): Ran a sound race in his heat but he will be the rank outsider if he gains a start. HEAT REPLAY

10 AMELIA CHRISTA (Robin Moore): If she gains a start I think she would be outclassed, but her heat run was good. HEAT REPLAY
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IN SUMMARY: This is a top quality Cup field assembled and I wouldn’t be surprised to see any one of six or seven dogs win the race. Aston Bolero is the favourite and deservedly so, but if there is a chink in his armour it is that he is just a little slow to jump. From the inside draw, if he doesn’t begin well he might be out of play very quickly. I still think from the inside draw he will be right in the finish but I’m keen on Big Ticket. I think he is drawn perfectly. If he holds his spot early I think he will be too strong late in the race. Proven Kodiak was terrific in his heat and will improve, whilst the other two Jason Thompson runners in Dewana Result and Dalgetty are both outstanding chasers and were strong heat winners. It should be a cracking race but it is wide open, even if the market suggests otherwise.

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MATT’S SELECTIONS:
2 Big Ticket
6 Dewana Result
1 Aston Bolero
8 Dalgetty
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MATT’S $20 SUGGESTED BET:
Trifecta 1st: 2-6. 2nd: 1-2-6-8 3rd: 1-2-4-5-6-8 ($20 gets you 83.33%).
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WATCH: Catch the Shepparton Cup TAB odds, heat replays, tips and suggested bets with GRVextra’s Simone Fisher and James Van de Maat.

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SHEPPARTON GOLD CUP TAB ODDS