News

7 November, 2024

Runner By Runner Guide: Group 1 Topgun

JASON Thompson has three of the favourites for Saturday’s Topgun as the family aims for a fifth victory in the $150,000 showpiece.

Often billed as the ‘Cox Plate of greyhound racing’ this year’s Topgun features six group 1 winners with more than $4.6m in prize money combined.

From box eight, Explicit heads the market following his stunning 28.97 win in a Melbourne Cup Prelude at Sandown Park last Thursday night.

Adelaide Cup winner (and Angle Park track record holder) Excavation is the second elect, while Flying Zulu, winner of the Brisbane Cup, is on the third line of betting.

If any of the triumvirate are successful, they would join No Intent (2001), Whisky Assassin (2004), Poke The Bear (2018) and Transponder (2023) as the Thompsons Topgun winners.

Star New South Wales sprinter Zipping Megatron has been well supported after drawing box one, while the brilliant Hector Fawley lines up after his brilliant win in the Group 3 Silver Bullet on Monday night.

The fact group 1 winners Good Odds Cobber and Morton, and Million Dollar Chase winner Blue Kermano, are all double figures in early betting speaks to the overall quality of the field.

Here’s a rundown of each runner’s chances according to The Greyhound Recorder’s Mick Floyd:

Career: 24 starts: 13-5-1,
Prizemoney: $329,715
Meadows PB: First start here.

Missed the start but finished strongly to run second in the Million Dollar Chase and was perhaps a little unlucky not to win it after finding trouble in the run. That will be the key to his chances here as his lack of early speed means he will need luck at some point. Will appreciate the inside draw from which he’s won five of six starts and a close third in another. Went 29.81 (5.25, 17.86) in an exhibition trial between races on Monday.


Career: 28 starts: 12-3-4,
Prizemoney: $221,775
Meadows PB: 29.71

Punched his ticket into the Topgun via his thrilling win in the Group 1 Adelaide Cup. Broke the Angle Park track record in a match race to qualify for that final, having previously given the Albion Park record a shake. His chances may be decided at box rise – he’s only been run down once when leading through the first turn, but is yet to win when coming from off the speed. Has a win and a second from two starts from the box.


Career: 34 starts: 20-4-2
Prizemoney: $797,720
Meadows PB: 29.55 (1)

Group 1 Brisbane Cup winner and runner-up in the Group 1 Harrison-Dawson. At his most recent outing, he stepped well but was beaten for early speed in the Group 2 Cranbourne Cup (run at Sandown Park) and found trouble at the first turn. However he found the line well to finish third. Ran 29.55 at his most recent start at The Meadows and has won 11 of his last 15 starts dating back to May – an impressive stat given his general lack of early speed.


Career: 69 starts: 26-10-8
Prizemoney: $790,875
Meadows PB: 29.54 (5)

Reigning Victorian Greyhound of the Year and a genuine star that doesn’t always get the recognition his record commands. Is probably at his best over 600m – he won the Group 1 Hume Cup over that distance at The Meadows this time last year – but showed his quality over the sprint trip by winning the Group 3 Silver Bullet on Monday night. Has a surprisingly good record from the middle boxes and has shown throughout his career he is capable of overcoming trouble. Would be a shock if he leads, but will be powering home.



Career: 26 starts: 9-3-5
Prizemoney: $1,049,055
Meadows PB: 29.64 (1)

It’s been a meteoric rise for the greyhound that was bought for just $10,000 in February. Had built a solid if unspectacular record in restricted grade before a slick 29.64 win in midweek grade at The Meadows earned him a trip to Sydney for the Million Dollar Chase. Scraping through the qualifiers, he’d go on to brilliantly win the series despite tricky draws in the semi-finals and final. Hard to fault his form over the past six weeks but will need to find another level against this field and from this draw.


Career
Career: 46 starts: 26-7-4
Prizemoney: $398,860
Meadows PB: First start here

Powerhouse NSW performer that’s trialling well for the series. Stepped well from box six in the final before finding trouble and finishing down the track. Has shown good speed in the past and will need to step well having again drawn box six here. Is lining up in his ninth group race final with mixed results – he won a group 1, 2 and 3, but has also fallen twice in group finals. Having his first race start, but did trial onto the arm on 3 November, running sharp splits of 5.05 and 17.66.


7. MORTON

SCRATCHED


Career: 33 starts: 24-4-1
Prizemoney: $462,880
Meadows PB: 29.63

Arguably the fastest greyhound in the country. Broke 29 seconds at Sandown last time out – just the 12th greyhound to ever do so – and ran 29.19 at Wentworth Park in a semi final of the Million Dollar Chase. A winner of seven of 10 starts at the track including the Group 1 Temlee, and three of eight starts from box eight. Has missed a place in just four of 33 career starts and interestingly, ran last on each of those occasions after finding trouble through no fault of his own. Blessed with brilliant early speed and a deserved favourite.


Career: 39 starts: 18-8-3
Prizemoney: $485,460
Meadows PB: 29.71 (1)

A brilliant winner of the Group 1 Australian Cup at The Meadows in February, the culmination of an outstanding period of form that saw him contest the Great Chase and Melbourne Cup before winning the Warragul Cup. Was sidelined for four months following the Easter Egg, and though he has only won one of nine starts since resuming, he did run the second fastest time in the SA All Stars match race series, was the fastest qualifier for the Adelaide Cup, and was placed in a hot Silver Bullet on Monday night. Lacks early speed which will make it tricky for him to get clear from box seven.


Mick Floyd’s Selections: Explicit (8) deserves favouritism especially with the scratching of Morton clearing the immediate early speed beneath him. Zipping Megatron (1) is drawn to be forward, however Excavation (2) from the low draw can lead and if he does, will be hard to beat.

8-2-1-4

 Original article written by Mick Floyd for the Greyhound Recorder