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  • Thursday, 12 Dec, 2024,
  • by Damien Ractliffe

Phoenix hopefuls waiting with bated breath

The connections of Lakeview Emily will be among the multiple sets of owners waiting by the phone on Friday for news on whether they’ve gained a late call-up into the world’s richest greyhound race, The Phoenix.

The Melbourne Storm is yet to announce who will fill the sole vacant position in the eight-dog slot race, after their initial representative Rinsed The Lot was forced to withdraw due to injury.

Harley Whelan, trainer of Lakeview Emily, said he had received one call from the Storm camp regarding a potential Phoenix berth, but he’s yet to hear whether his home-bred daughter of Fernando Bale will be lucky enough to take her place in the $1.65 million race.

“We’ve had a phone call but haven’t heard nothing yet. It’s obviously up to them now,” Whelan said.

Her form is near perfect. A winner last Thursday night at Sandown, she clocked 29.10 there to win, after winning at the Meadows a week earlier in 29.55, beating Field Day.

She was luckless in her Melbourne Cup heat, but went into that race with consecutive wins also.

But Whelan is hoping a sharp trial at Warragul on Thursday may be the clincher to help sway the Storm to select her for the race.

“She trialled at Warragul yesterday and went 22.12 so I think that’s only a length off the record or a length and a half the record there, so she’s fantastic,” Whelan said.

“Hopefully she’s lucky enough to gain a start somewhere.

“It will either come or it won’t, you can’t do much about it.”

Other stars without a Phoenix berth include the Jason Thompson-trained pair Flying Zulu and Tim Zoo, while Iconic Jet, Miss Envy and Grand Tourer are also possibilities of a call on Friday, with the Storm given a 10.30am deadline on Friday to officially nominate their representative.

If Lakeview Emily doesn’t gain a start, she’s still a chance of being a reserve for the Phoenix, which would set her up for a match race on the feature race night. Nominations for the reserve pool also close at 10.30am on Friday.

“Yeah definitely, that’s been the plan the whole way along, whether she got a slot or not she’d be going there on Phoenix night, so we’ll run with that,” Whelan said.

Confirmed starters
for The Phoenix

(odds thanks to Sportsbet)

  • Aaron Bain Racing and Summit Bloodstock – Excavation ($4.20)
  • Australian Bloodstock – Smooth Plane ($12)
  • Awesome Lodge – Explicit ($3.50)
  • Melbourne Storm – TBD
  • Sportsbet – Big Energy ($6.50)
  • Racing Queensland – Daysea’s Rory ($31)
  • Ladbrokes – Schillaci ($9)
  • Total Container Solutions – Sunset Frazier ($6.50)
Damien RactliffeDamien Ractliffe

Damien Ractliffe

A public affairs and communications specialist, working with Greyhound Racing Victoria after a career as an award-winning racing and sport journalist.

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