There will be a State of Origin-type feeling at The Meadows this evening as the best sprinters and stayers trained in Victoria and New South Wales contest the two G1 TAB Topguns.

Victorian-trained Do It (G1 winner – 4 from 7 Box 1), Aston Rupee (dual G3 winner – 16 from 29), Tiggerlong Tonk (dual G1 winner – 42 from 92) and Lala Kiwi (G3 winner – 4 of last 7) go against NSW-trained Zipping Kyrgios (G2 winner – won last 6), Wow (G1 winner – 26 from 44), Bandit Ned (G1 winner – 15 from 18) and Jungle Deuce (G2 winner – 4 of last 6) in the $150,000 to-the-winner G1 TAB Topgun (525m).

Victorian-trained Gypsy Wyong (G3 winner – 7 from 8 Box 2), Hank The Hustler (G3 winner – 3 of last 6), Mepunga Ruby (G3 winner – 3 of last 4) and Zac’s Entity (G3 placed – won last 3) face NSW-trained Miss Ezmae (G2 winner – 13 from 21), Zipping Niseko (G3 winner – 15 from 33), Stanley Road (dual G1 winner – 42.15sec PB) and Super Estrella (G1 placed – 19 from 43) in the G1 TAB Topgun Stayers (725m) with a $75,000 first prize.

In the first race of the meeting, Bareki (17 from 24) is aiming to win her eighth-straight race in a Grade 5 525m final worth $9,100 to-the-winner, but Titan Blazer and Weblec Raider (2 from 2 Trk/Dst – 29.75sec PB) will both challenge strongly.

Shima Punga (won last 2) v Ben Mayo (4 from 8) v Caroline (6 from 13) v G1 finalist Envy To Burn (2 of last 3) v Geelong Oaks winner Osprey Rose (3 of last 5) battle in a hotly-contested $12,000 to-the-winner Grade 5 525m final.

Group finalists Gypsy Bun, Daph’s Ascend, Nikoli Bale, Kinson Bale and Xavien Bale, plus Time For Peace (29.69sec PB), clash in the Mixed 3/4 525m race, while G1 finalist Handsome Rhino (4 from 7 Trk/Dst – 3 from 4 Box 1) highlights the Grade 4 525m event.

Ballarat 450m track record holder Silver Lake (5 from 10 – 2 from 2 Trk/Dst) returns from a seven-month layoff at Warragul, while The Horizon finalist Whistling Bullet (2 of last 3) v Mr. Neo (4 of last 6) and Soda Pee Wee (3 of last 5) v dual G2 finalist Benchester (5 from 9 Box 2) v Soda Diamond (11 from 23) should be great races.

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 1 TAB Topgun

VICTORIA ? NEW SOUTH WALES

? The Meadows ? Race 8 ? 525m ⏱ 9:17pm

Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539160/race/8

The Watchdog says ?: The Topgun has been one of the best races on the calendar for some time now and this year’s edition is one of the best line-ups yet. It has that State of Origin feel with Victoria and New South Wales both having four runners and I know that I am biased, but I think the home ground advantage is going to be huge. ASTON RUPEE (2) will jump favourite and rightly so. He is the fastest chaser on the planet, and he obliterated a class line-up at Sandown Park last start. However, we all know that he can be hit or miss early, and he is going to need a few things to go his way. Grand old campaigner TIGGERLONG TONK (6) continues to produce the goods and I think he still has what it takes to add another Group 1 win to his CV. Prior to the match race at Cranbourne, I thought that maybe his best was behind him, however it took the explosive INVICTUS RISING an eternity to reel him in and the run was super. With a clean getaway, he should find himself sitting in the top two at the first bend and he will make his presence felt. The visitors haven’t done too well with the box draw and they look up against it. BANDIT NED (7) scorched in a trial here on Monday night and he is six-of-six from this draw. However, I think he may be three and four wide through the turn and by the time he gets balanced, he may be giving the leaders too much of a head start. ZIPPING KYRGIOS (3) has the best chance of the NSW-trained greyhounds in my opinion. His recent wins around Richmond, The Gardens and Wentworth Park have been simply breathtaking, and he trialled extremely well here on October 23. If he can clear ‘Rupee’ in the initial stages and find the rail without too much trouble, he will make his presence felt at the business end. Now we get to Group 1 Adelaide Cup champion DO IT (1). He has come up with the gun draw tonight and that should give him every chance to settle near the speed. We know what he is capable of when he is in the clear, so if he does everything right at box rise, he is a huge chance. It’s such an open affair that you could run this race 10 times and get eight different winners, so strap yourselves in and enjoy the ride.

Selections:  6 – 1 – 2 – 3

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Saturday 6 November

? $3 Multi

First ?: Place – INDY MATILDA
? The Meadows ? Race 3 ? Box 3 ? 525m ⏱ 7:38pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.95 Place (Top two finish required)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539160/race/3

Second ?: Win – BLACK AVENGER
? The Meadows ? Race 9 ? Box 1 ? 525m ⏱ 9:38pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.70 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539160/race/9

Third ?: Place – BLAZING TIMES
? The Meadows ? Race 10 ? Box 3 ? 525m ⏱ 10:00pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.55 Place (Top two finish required)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539160/race/10

The Watchdog says ? : INDY MATILDA (3) will appreciate the empty draw inside and she will scrape the paint through the bend, so with the red expected to hold the lead, she will get all the breaks in running and a top-two finish looks likely. BLACK AVENGER (1) owns a scorching 29.63 PB here and with the vacant draw in two, he will get plenty of room to balance up and he is expected to make every post a winner. BLAZING TIMES (3) was brilliant at Sandown Park last time, and he looks very well graded again. The inside two runners should be prominent early; however, he can stalk them mid race and he will be very strong in the closing stages.

Multi price: $5.13

? $2 Win – CAROLINE     ? Lucky Longshot ?
? The Meadows ? Race 5 ? Box 5 ? 525m ⏱ 8:19pm
TAB fixed odds: $6.50 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539160/race/5

The Watchdog says ? : She wasn’t the fastest heat winner, but she did win in dominant fashion and with her brilliant early speed, she is going to be a factor in everything she contests. There is very even speed drawn in one to four, so with those runners expected to bunch up early, she should have enough pace to cross early, and she will give them something to catch.

? $2 Place – GYPSY WYONG
? The Meadows ? Race 6 ? Box 2 ? 725m ⏱ 8:38pm     ? G1 TOPGUN STAYERS ?
TAB fixed odds: $2.40 Place
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539160/race/6

The Watchdog says ? : GYPSY WYONG (2) had little luck in the Group 1 Hume Cup final here on Monday night and she may appreciate the slight rise in distance. MISS EZMAE (1) is expected to hold the early lead and that should allow ‘Gypsy’ to follow her through at the bend and she will really get into her work in the middle stages. The last 40m is a slight concern, however she should be prominent throughout and be able to hold on for a top-three finish.

? $1.50 Win – DO IT
? $1.50 Win – TIGGERLONG TONK
? The Meadows ? Race 8 ? Boxes 1 & 6 ? 525m ⏱ 9:17pm     ? G1 TOPGUN SPRINT ?
TAB fixed odds: $10 Win (Do It)
TAB fixed odds: $10 Win (Tiggerlong Tonk)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539160/race/8

The Watchdog says ? : It really is a wonderful race, and any one of the eight runners could win, however I think there is tremendous value with those two runners. I’m expecting TIGGERLONG TONK (6) to head to the back in the top two and from the good draw, DO IT (1) should be able to settle in the top four. With some crowding expected at the first bend, you want to be in the leading division, so these two runners represent value at odds.

? RECENT $10 INVESTMENTS ?

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? MONTH x MONTH RECORD

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