By Gerard Guthrie, Greyhound Recorder. 

The first domino has fallen in the countdown to the Group 1 The Phoenix with Sportsbet announcing that favourite Wrongly Accused will fill its slot.

The young Victorian superstar is currently $4 All In favourite for the $1 million-to-the-winner slot race to be held at The Meadows on Saturday, December 12.

Trained by Justin Nolan and raced and bred by Darren and Michael Puleio, Wrongly Accused, who started his racing career as Organised Crime, has won 11 of his 16 starts, securing feature victories in the G1 National Sprint Championship at Sandown Park and G2 Horsham Cup.

The son of super sire Bernardo and Easy Choice is $1.50 favourite to claim the second Group 1 trophy of his brief career in Friday night’s Adelaide Cup final (530m), which carries a $137,000 winner’s purse.

Sportsbet famously won the first two editions of The Phoenix with champion bitch Wow She’s Fast going back-to-back, and most recently were represented by third-placed Accredited in last year’s race.

“The Phoenix is one of the biggest nights in Australian greyhound racing and Sportsbet is proud to once again be part of it through our long standing partnership with Greyhound Racing Victoria,” said Sportsbet Chief Commercial Officer Nathan Arundell.

 “We have been fortunate to enjoy some incredible moments in the race over the years, including back-to-back victories with the champion Wow She’s Fast, and we are excited to have another outstanding greyhound representing Sportsbet this year.

“Wrongly Accused is one of the fastest dogs in the country and has already shown that he belongs at the highest level.

“Despite being early in his career, he is already a Group 1 winner and has the strength and speed that you need to be competitive in a race like The Phoenix.

“We cannot wait to see him line up at The Meadows and take his chance on greyhound racing’s biggest stage.”

At his most recent appearance Wrongly Accused sensationally smashed the Angle Park track record when clocking 29.72 to win the Match Race Challenge to secure direct entry into the Adelaide Cup final.

Wrongly Accused has won two of his four starts at The Meadows, clocking a near-record PB of 29.43, with one of his defeats a luckless third in the G1 Maturity Classic.