The box draws for the 2019 Group 1 TAB Topgun and Topgun Stayers, to be run on Saturday night at The Meadows, were conducted live this morning on greyhound racing’s brand new free-to-air TV show, Thrill of the Chase on Seven Mate.

Arguably the biggest winner out of the $150,000 to-the-winner Topgun Box Draw was Black Opium, who will exit the coveted inside alley in the 525m sprint.

“At first look Black Opium appears to be a big winner after coming up with Box 1, while Sennachie is also well drawn in Box 3,” said Thrill of the Chase co-host James Van de Maat.

Moments later Sennachie opened up as the $3.50 favourite ahead of Black Opium at $4.20.

James also revealed he had recently spoken to trainer Robert Britton, who told him that his four-time Group 1 winner Tornado Tears is primed to take out the Group 1 Topgun Stayers.

“Tornado Tears loves to rail so being drawn on the inside (Box 2), he is the one to beat,” Van de Maat said.

Tornado Tears opened up as the $2.60 favourite.

2019 TAB Topgun (525m)
Saturday 9 November, The Meadows
First prize $150,000

1 BLACK OPIUM, Jason Thompson (Pearcedale VIC)
2 GET IT GIZMO, Harry Manolitsis (Lysterfield South VIC)
3 SENNACHIE, Steven White (Buln Buln East VIC)
4 BAROOGA BRETT, Jamie Ennis (Lara VIC)
5 FERAL FRANKY, Raymond Smith (Forbes NSW)
6 GOOD ODDS HARADA, Frank Hurst (Londonderry NSW)
7 SHIMA SHINE, Andrea Dailly (Anakie VIC)
8 WHISKEY RIOT, Anthony Azzopardi (Myrniong VIC)

Reserves
9 SLINGSHOT HAMMER, Robert Camilleri (Lara VIC)
10 CURT LEE, Glenn Rounds (Devon Meadows VIC)

2019 TAB Topgun Stayers (725m)
Saturday 9 November, The Meadows
First prize $75,000

1 SHE WILL BLOOM, Brendan Pursell (Lara VIC)
2 TORNADO TEARS, Robert Britton (Lara VIC)
3 BLUE SHADOWS, Angela Langton (Anakie VIC)
4 BAGO BYE BYE, Darren Russell (Innisplain QLD)
5 RAJASTHAN, Robert Camilleri (Lara VIC)
6 BOOM DOWN, Steven White (Buln Buln East VIC)
7 BLUE MOON RISING, John Finn (Cranebrook NSW)
8 RADAR GUNN, Jeff Crawford (Buccan QLD)

Reserves
9 JUST TERMS, Anthony Azzopardi (Myrniong VIC)
10 ANNIE LAVA, Brendan Pursell (Lara VIC)