The Healesville Festival of Racing continues today with six heats of the G2 Healesville Cup featuring dual G2 country cup champion Ferdinand Boy (26 from 47 – 19.00sec PB).
The narrow runner-up from The Arrow last Sunday is favoured to win the fifth heat, but Aston Geneve (5 from 5) and G2 finalist Immunity (17 from 26) must be respected.
Two-time G1 winner Tiggerlong Tonk (41 from 87) – TAB’s $4 ‘All In’ favourite for the G2 Healesville Cup – will aim to emulate his 18.93sec PB in the first heat although multiple Group finalist Dream Wizard (6 from 11 Box 1) will provide stiff opposition.
Group finalists Mr. America (8 from 16) v Fernando Mick v Hadouken plus South Australia’s Shavano (9 from 17) clash in the second heat, while speedsters Rocket Boy (29 from 55 – won last 3) and Pirate Pete (3 from 8 Trk/Dst) highlight the third heat.
The fourth heat contains G2 finalist Got The Torque v Green Blazer (2 from 3 Trk/Dst) v G3 finalist Aston Titan (3 of last 4) v G3 winner Blackpool Flash (26 from 51).
The star-studded sixth heat should be a beauty with Hill Top Jonah (13 from 26 – won last 5) v Victorian Straight Track Championship winner Utah Ghost (18.93sec PB) v last year’s G3 Healesville Cup champion Zambora Lou (25 from 55 – won The Arrow last Sunday).
The Grassroots Regional Sprint Championship commences at Ballarat this afternoon with five heats for the central region.
In the twilight at Sale, G1 Silver Chief winner Lakeview Walter (9 from 20) faces track specialist Omega Dodge (24.76sec PB) and Group 1 finalist Persian Goddess, while G1 Australian Cup placegetter Lakeview Cruiser is hoping to recapture his best form.
Here’s an extensive analysis of today’s Must Watch Race, and be sure to scroll down further for ? The Watchdog’s $10 spend…
? MUST-WATCH RACE: Group 2 Healesville Cup Heat 5
ASTON GENEVE ? FERDINAND BOY ? IMMUNITY ? USMAN BALE
? Healesville ? Race 8 ? 350m ⏱ 12:47pm
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538934/race/8
The Watchdog says ?: All six heats are absolutely stacked but this heat is the deepest. FERDINAND BOY (5) had his colours lowered by Utah Ghost here four runs back and it appeared that his straight track ability would not be as great as his one bend talent, however he has gone to another level in his past three here. He broke the clock over both distances, and he capped off a great stretch of form with a narrow defeat in the Arrow last Sunday. There is not a whole lot of pace around him today, so if he can step on terms, he will quickly flick through the gears and assume control and they will have to go well under the 19-second barrier to reel him in. ASTON GENEVE (2) is the new kid on the block having gone five for five with the latest being here in a devastating 19.09sec. She is a serious talent and is going places, however she has yet to be really tested in her brief career and today she comes up against an elite line-up and the pressure will be on from the outset. I am expecting her to go with ‘Ferdinand’ for the first 250m or so, however I think she may crack under pressure late and place claims are best. IMMUNITY (6) is another one of the big guns and with an ounce of luck early, she can make her presence felt. The box draw has not done her any favours and she will be desperate for the inside, so she is going to need a lot of things to go her way. ALL INN BILLY (1) is the interesting runner, He is far better than his form reads, and he did plenty of racing here earlier in his career. He owns a slick 19.31sec but we all know that at his best he could press the 19-second barrier. He will need to improve his box manners, but he has the right draw and may cause a boil over. It should be a cracking day of straight racing and I cannot wait to see this race unfold.
Selections: 5 – 1 – 2 – 8
