Thursday night’s Victorian National Sprint Final (515m) at Sandown Park has assembled a field worthy of the occasion, with Group 1 winners, serious early speed and some of the most exciting greyhounds in the country going head-to-head.
The winner will earn Victoria’s place in the National Sprint Final at Sandown Park on Saturday, August 29, and race caller Dan Hibberd believes the battle for early supremacy could prove decisive.
Hibberd has gone runner-by-runner through the star-studded field.
1. STORM HUSTLER
“His last four starts have been absolutely brilliant despite only winning one of them. All of them have been from sticky draws and he comes up with the red when it matters most. Drawn to have every possible chance.”
2. ON THE PROWL
“Super win to knock off Storm Hustler last week and now draws lower. Broke five seconds to the first bend last week and will need to repeat here. With so much speed around him he will need to do everything right but is more than capable.”
3. OFF THE CHART
“In the top echelon of greyhounds going around at the moment. Maybe a touch off two starts ago but could not have done anything more last week. Again, there’s so much speed around him, he has to jump well, but this guy is all class.”
4. CLEO’S STAR
“Has hit form at exactly the right time with three very good wins in a row. More than capable of leading if she jumps perfectly, but in this class she might just find them a little too strong.”
5. RETALIATION
“Going so well at the moment. His heat win was sublime. A 4.97 early split set it up but he still went 29.20 and beat a field who were all in hot form. Despite the squeeze, he draws outside some hot beginners so he should get a good run early.”
6. WRONGLY ACCUSED
“It’s hard to describe how good this guy is, how good he could be and what he means for the sport. His Maturity defeat defies belief and his two wins at Sandown since have been ridiculous. He’s drawn outside hot speed but I honestly don’t think it matters. If he’s close around the first turn, sit back and enjoy.”
7. ZELDA COVILHA
“Love this guy and he’s finally getting wins on the board. Never far away but needed to be drawn the other side of the track in this race. He won’t show the early speed of some of the opposition underneath, so if he gets across to the rail he could get lucky.”
8. INDY MELMAN
“The Maturity champ has done nothing wrong since that Group 1 win and was just pipped last week by Cleo’s Star. Similar to his kennelmate in seven, he probably needed to be drawn a bit more favourably and, given those underneath him, he will need a ton of luck from the pink.”
