Sandown has received seven nominations for the $50,000 winner-takes-all Macro Meats Shootout, however the fastest greyhound of 2014 is not among them.
Allen Deed, Awesome Project, Banjo Boy, Iva Vision, Oakvale Destiny, Sisco Rage and Star Recall are the chasers pursuing the country’s speed championship, however the connections of My Bro Fabio have opted to bypass the race.
A winner of six of his last seven starts, including two stunning wins at Sandown Park, My Bro Fabio will instead compete in the Group 1 Hume Cup at the Meadows on Cup eve.
“I’d have loved to have him line up in the Shootout, he loves Sandown Park and the format is perfect for him,” said trainer Brook Ennis.
“However backing him up just three days after the Hume Cup is asking a bit much from the dog, especially with the Melbourne Cup heats just a week later.”
Despite the absence of My Bro Fabio, the seven contenders leave the Shootout selectors a difficult task of narrowing it down to the final field of four.
The seven nomination have combined to win 116 races and over $1.1m in prize money. Importantly for a race in which speed is king, 66 of those wins have come in the best time of the meeting.
“We’re very happy with the quality of the nominations for this year’s Shootout,” said Michael Floyd, Racing and Media Manager at Sandown Park.
“The Shootout is one of the truly unique features on the calendar and is always a spectacular race. All seven nominations are brilliant greyhounds in their own right – all proven at the top level and all capable of running serious times.”
The 2014 Shootout field is determined by representatives of the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club and Greyhound Racing Victoria and will be announced on the Catching Pen on Sky Racing 2 at 6.30pm on Tuesday 28 October. The box draw will be conducted on course on Thursday 30 October with the $50,000 winner-takes-all final to be run on Thursday 6 November.
