RSN’s Ron Hawkswell, the voice of the TAB Topgun, caught up with fellow race caller Victoria Shaw ahead of tonight’s 2021 version of Australia’s richest invitational race, which carries a $150,000 first prize.
The Topgun was first run in 1993, which Ron reminisced produced a memorable dead heat between Golden Currency and Worth Backing, while some of the other great chasers to win the race include Rapid Journey (1998), Bombastic Shiraz (2003), El Grand Senor (2010) and Fernando Bale (2015).
“You’ve really got to earn your stripes to win the Topgun,” Hawkswell said.
Ron spoke about the difficulty the Topgun Panel, which he is part of, faces each year in selecting the field for the Topgun, with the last couple of spots always particularly contentious.
A keen student of form, Ron discussed the chances of every runner in tonight’s Topgun Stayers and Topgun Sprint, to run at 8.38pm and 9.17pm respectively.
RON HAWKSWELL’S SELECTIONS
TOPGUN STAYERS
6 MEPUNGA RUBY
5 STANLEY ROAD
8 ZAC’S ENTITY
2 GYPSY WYONG
TOPGUN SPRINT
2 ASTON RUPEE
3 ZIPPING KYRGIOS
1 DO IT
6 TIGGERLONG TONK
WATCH: GOLDEN CURRENCY (5) and WORTH BACKING (1) dead-heat in the inaugural Topgun at Sandown Park in 1993, with REVEALING (5) a close third. The race was televised live on Channel 10.
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Communications Manager at Greyhound Racing Victoria with 25 years’ experience as a reporter with National Greyhound Form newspaper and GRV. Former Watchdog form analyst. Adopter of celebrity greyhound, Fred Basset. Victorian Greyhound of the Year and Victorian greyhound racing Hall of Fame panel member.
Emerging stayer seizes unlikely opportunity to claim $75K first prize in Topgun Stayers…
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