The all-important box draw for the $1.65m The Phoenix will broadcast live at 10.30am on Sunday morning on Sky2 and via The Watchdog app and website. The Phoenix box draw is unique in that connections of the first greyhound randomly drawn gets to select the box of their choice, and so on.

In a ‘special edition’ of The Stir Up, GRV’s Andrew Copley fires the questions at colleagues Gerard Guthrie and Peter Quilty to extract their thoughts on the pre-box draw conundrum.

You can always keep track of your favourite greyhounds by saving them in your WatchDog Blackbook!

Watch all the drama as it unfolds at the unique Phoenix Box Draw at 10.30am on Sunday 10 December on Sky2 or via The Watchdog app and website.

Cops: Box 1 is the most winningest box over 525m at The Meadows. Is there anyone that wouldn’t choose Box 1 if they are the first name called?

Gerard: Very doubtful Andrew. We saw in last year’s Phoenix box draw, the first three sets of connections didn’t hesitate to select boxes one, two and three, in that order. I’d expect we’ll see something very similar on Sunday. Jason Thompson has gone on the record that Postman Pat is best suited from wide draws, so he might be one that would give serious consideration to not selecting ‘the red’. I still reckon it would be a brave call.

Quilts: I think it would be Lisa Cockerell with middle distance magician Hector Fawley. She would be wanting him to avoid being jammed up in the early stages in order to produce his paralysing finishing burst. Hector Fawley has won four times from the ‘red trap’ over ‘600m’, but it’s a different kettle of fish in sprinting ranks at this elite level. However, he has won twice in smart times from Box 1 over 515m at Sandown Park – 29.25sec and 29.33sec.

The Meadows 525m box stats – past 12 months

Cops: Which of the eight dogs can win from a wide draw and which ones can’t?

Gerard: I’m not prepared to say any of the eight can’t win from box eight. They’ve all been selected by their respective slot holders for a reason. But to cross such an elite field is an enormous task, so perhaps Postman Pat and maybe Pass The Buck have the early speed to make their way over, while I think the remainder are going to need luck from an outside draw, but I’m not ruling anyone out.

Quilts: Definitely ex-Kiwi Postman Pat which won a Million Dollar Chase semi-final and the G2 Far South Challenge in NZ from the ‘pink alley’. He also won a heat and finished second in the final of the G1 Brisbane Cup from Box 8. Alpha Zulu won the G2 Bendigo Cup and finished second in a heat of the G2 Cranbourne Cup from Box 8. And even though I reckon he’s better served ‘inside’, Big Energy finished second in the Cranbourne Cup from the ‘pink. Meanwhile, I’m a bit sceptical on Wow She’s Fast – even though she’s capable of anything – and Schillaci delivering the goods in The Phoenix from a wide draw.

Cops: Is there any chance that someone does something out of the ordinary on Sunday and if so, who and what could it be?

Gerard: I’m going to be very boring here and say no. I can’t see anyone rolling the dice unnecessarily when you’re racing for $1 million. I know I wouldn’t!

Quilts: Great question, AC. Believe it or not, it wouldn’t surprise me if Jason Thompson takes Box 8 with Postman Pat if he gets the chance. I reckon it would be a toss of the coin between Box 1 and the ‘pink’. Both draws would give Postman Pat the chance to unleash his amazing acceleration and allow him to be ‘uncluttered’ in the mad drive to the first turn. And it would possibly be the end of the penny section if he was to turn into the back straight with a break on his rivals.

Cops: What is the best value dog in the pre-box draw market and why?

Gerard: I’m going to take two! Jay Is Jay ($8) is flying and ran a great second in the Topgun, where he drew box eight, on debut at The Meadows. He’ll be much better for that experience. And Hector Fawley ($9) brings huge X factor into the race. While many of his rivals have to lead to win, he doesn’t. He probably needs to draw inside but if he does I think they’ll be looking nervously over their shoulders!

Quilts: Funnily enough, it could be Pass The Buck at $8. I’ve been thinking why TAB locked in Pass The Buck as its representative. He’s won eight races from 10 starts, so there’s no questioning his vast potential. However, The Phoenix is totally different playing field – a paradigm shift! But does someone in the ‘corridors of power’ at TAB know something we don’t?

SPORTSBET’S PRE-BOX DRAW MARKET

$3.50 BIG ENERGY (RSN)
$5 ALPHA ZULU (Good Blokes Society)
$5 POSTMAN PAT (Greyhound HQ)
$6.50 WOW SHE’S FAST (Sportsbet)
$8 JAY IS JAY (Racing Queensland)
$9 HECTOR FAWLEY (Total Container Solutions)
$9 PASS THE BUCK (TAB)
$15 SCHILLACI (Ladbrokes)

*Odds courtesy Sportsbet as at 8 December 2023.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST PHOENIX MARKET
INCLUDING PRICES OF POTENTIAL RESERVES

THE PHOENIX BOX DRAW: HOW IT WORKS

• The Steward will draw a single name from the barrel and reveal the name
• The 90-second countdown clock will start as soon as the name is revealed by the Steward
• Connections of the first greyhound name drawn will have their choice of the eight boxes
• This process will repeat itself until all eight boxes have been allocated