Quality greyhounds won in quality fashion in tonight’s Sportsbet Warragul Cup heats, with very little surprises across the five events. It was Delicate who stole the show, producing a blistering performance to record the fourth fastest time ever over Warragul’s 460m.
In the opening Heat, Dramatical got proceedings underway in very exciting style. Despite being the dominant favourite, he was last away from the boxes, but he hugged the Dulux on the rail and quickly worked back into the contest. Finding the front soon after, he put the race to bed with ease. He is an absolute machine.
Mav Reiko brought his best box manners in Heat 2, holding out the early speed of Tarawi Therese before fending off Robinson late to score comfortably.
Delicate’s box manners can be hit-and-miss, but there were no such issues tonight in her heat. She began brilliantly and put the race beyond doubt instantly, giving Intrepidus no chance in pursuit. She stopped the clock in a staggering 25.23 seconds.
Only the likes of Dramatical (25.159), Shima Shine (25.187) and Dr. Tucker (25.213) have gone faster.
In the fourth heat, Slick Splits delivered a polished return, doing exactly what was required to progress. First-up since the Phoenix, expectations weren’t through the roof, but as he so often does he hooked wide and ran down early leader Typhoon Baylee.
The final heat saw Off The Chart showcase his elite mid-race speed. He found the front with ease and with Tim Zoo encountering slight trouble Off The Chart was never seriously challenged.
With five heats conducted, the three fastest runners-up also progressed to next week’s Sportsbet Warragul Cup final – Robinson, Intrepidus and Typhoon Baylee.
The Group 2 $40,000 to-the-winner final will be run next Friday night February 6.
