HEAT FORCES A MAJOR AUSSIE FIXTURE CHANGE
At a time when meetings in Ireland are facing postponement due to frosty conditions, it makes quite a change to read of the “problem” they are experiencing down in Australia.
The final of the Grade 1 Silver Chief was due to be run at the Meadows in Melbourne today but the meeting has been postponed by a day and will be run tomorrow instead. The reason? The decision has been made due to the Greyhound Racing Victoria Hot Weather Policy!
Meadows manager Marg Long, a person well known to many Irish greyhound folk, explained: “The GRV Hot Weather Policy states that if the temperature reaches 38 degrees three hours before the commencement of a meeting, that meeting will be abandoned. To avoid this – especially considering the huge night of racing – a decision has been made to move the program to a Sunday twilight meeting. We understand the inconvenience this causes, but the safety and welfare of greyhounds and participants is always paramount.”
Race 1 is scheduled for 5:39pm on Sunday.
FOURTH GROUP WIN
Queensland chaser Thirty Talks will be aiming to win the fourth Group race of his career – and second at Group 1 level – after drawing box one in the final.
The son of Where’s Pedro and Unfinished showcased his outstanding will to win with a last stride victory in the last of the four semi -finals, overcoming a wide draw and interference in running to score in 30.07. The brindle chaser has won his last three starts when beginning from box one, and will be the greyhound to beat in the first Group 1 final of 2017. Victory would push his prizemoney won to almost $400,000.
The Tony Brett-trained chaser will face off against some greyhounds in scintillating form, including Lightning Frank, who lived up to his name with a devastating, Best of Night 29.66 semi-final effort.
The son of Black Magic Opal and Kirabilli Abbie set up the win with splits of 5.10 and a flying 17.54 and, just like in his heat win, will have to overcome box five in Saturday’ final.
Powerhouse sprinter Reefton Treasure was the second fastest semi winner, sitting behind early leader Duty Free before bolting away to score in 29.80. The son of Turanza Bale and Pindari Bale will have to overcome box seven in the final, with most of his recent wins coming when drawn closer to the fence.
Matt Machine (box four) has qualified for his second Group 1 after a gutsy 30.04 victory in the first of the semi- finals. The son of SH Avatar and Love To Rock finished seventh in last year’s Melbourne Cup final.
As with most Aussie finals Irish bloodlines are prominent with the likes of Spiral Nikita, Farloe Melody and Silver Ball represented by some of the eight finalists. Indeed, Spiral Nikita figures in the breeding of three of the runners.