News
12 June, 2025
The ‘Experts’ Phoenix Draft – Six Months Out
The countdown to the fifth running of The Phoenix gets into full swing.
We have enlisted eight of the leading greyhound racing experts to select their (hypothetical) runner for the world’s richest race, but with a twist – they have to select their choice now, six months out.
The ‘Experts’ draft works much like a fantasy sports draft with each selector given their opportunity to select a greyhound they think gives them the best opportunity to win the race on December 13. Once a dog has been selected, that greyhound is off limits for selection for the rest of the draft.
Explicit (8) for Awesome Lodge takes out the world’s richest race for 2024, The Phoenix.
MEET THE ‘EXPERTS’
Jason Adams – GRV, RSN & Sky Racing Media Guru
Ethan Christian – Sandown & Star Sports Greyhound Analyst
Mitch Ebeyer – Sportsbet & SEN Track Greyhound Expert
George Farrugia – RSN Greyhound Expert & Prominent Breeder
Daniel Hibberd – Racecaller & Mr. Nathalia 2024
Nathan Rooney – Sky Racing Analyst & Greyhound Trainer
Corey Smith – MGRA Racing + Media & SEN Track
James Van de Maat – Racecaller & Greyhound Trainer
THE DRAFT
The banjo was dusted off, the random draw conducted and now it’s up to the ‘experts’ to make their decisions.
Will they select a Wow She’s Fast type who hadn’t even had a race start six months out from her first victory in The Phoenix? Or will they select one of the biggest names in the sport currently? Let’s find out.
“What he did in his Ballarat Cup heat win was something special”.
NSW speedster who has won 7 from 9 including the Goulburn track record at his first up run from a five-month spell. The hulking 39kg unit also finished 2nd to Explicit in the recent Ballarat Cup.
Sportsbet Odds: $12
“A young and exciting talent with great box speed and a lot of improvement up the sleeve. At just 21 months old, he went just a length slower than the time that Explicit set in the Ballarat Cup final”
Just 5 starts into his career, the younger half-brother of the likes of Mepunga Tully, Mepunga Smokey, Mepunga Reward and Mepunga Surprise, has shown an ability to run times that top-liners of the sport can merely dream of.
Sportsbet Odds: $12
“A proven performer at the top level who will hopefully still be near his peak at 3 years & 3 months come Phoenix time”.
The Perth Cup & Sandgroper winner has a bulging resume that also includes the Cannington track record, a Silver Chief 2nd and a Gold Bullion final as well as over 630k in the bank.
Sportsbet Odds: $21
“Announced herself through the Launching Pad and Sapphire Crown series’ with breathtaking wins around Sandown. She will be almost 2 and a ½ years old and in the peak of her powers come Phoenix time”.
One of only five females to break the magical 29 second barrier at Sandown, the former SA speedster is the rare sort of animal with blends blistering early speed and exceptional strength.
Sportsbet Odds: $10 favourite
“It’s fairly tough to run 29.05 at Sandown Park, let alone on debut in record time for a maiden. Took the record from a chaser who’s won half these races and is from the same kennel (Wow She’s Fast). Fast early, staying bloodlines and in a camp known for preparing for grand finals. Hard not to like.”
Undefeated from three career starts and from the same Owner/Trainer/Breeding combination that has won two of the four editions of The Phoenix, Saquon will be nearly two and a half years old come December 13.
Sportsbet Odds: $10 favourite
“Has some imperfections but ones that he can improve with experience. He’s fast enough and has the potential to be good enough. Forgotten about for now, but he will be front and centre come December”.
Another one with less than 10 career starts. The Ennis-trained youngster started his two-turn racing career with a bang at The Meadows in February with a trio of sub-30 second performances to take out the Vic Bred maiden series before following that up with a roaring 29.11 at Sandown Park.
Sportsbet Odds: $16
“Going left of centre here, I strongly considered Cumbria Jack who I believe has one of the biggest engines in the sport. Finding a leader is potentially finding the winner and with Mark to Market’s blistering early speed and trained by connections (Darryl Thomas/Michelle Sultana) who were originally in the race last year with Rinsed the Lot before he was injured”.
Has worked through his grades in NSW showing an ability to lead races from 320m to 520m and was a finalist in the Group 1 National Derby back in January.
Editors Note: James wanted to change his mind no less than thirty three times.
Sportsbet Odds: $51
“Pick 8 for the reigning champ and current best dog in the country who won’t even be 4 in December? He’s obviously a massive retirement risk given his ongoing stud demand, but sign me up for that journey.”
One of only three greyhounds to take out The Phoenix and the only greyhound to do the Melbourne Cup-Phoenix double. His trainer Jason Thompson (Awesome Lodge) bought a slot for him last year; will they attempt to go back-to-back with a dog likely to mix stud duties and racing for the foreseeable future?
Sportsbet Odds: $10 favourite
How about the reserve pool?
Once again, this year we will see the Phoenix reserves selected out of the pool of nominated greyhounds. Nominations are open to any (non-maiden) greyhounds that wish to be taken into consideration.
Some of the notable names not selected by our ‘experts’ include Excavation, Lakeview Emily, Miss Envy, Good Odds Cobber, Tim Zoo, Mepunga Reward, Mepunga Tully, Jungle Johnny, Smooth Plane, Dalwhinnie, West on Sidney, Rinsed The Lot, Joey the Jet, Cumbria Jack, Hotel Whisky One and many, many more.
Last year saw multiple G1 winner Tim Zoo (1) take on kennel mate, Field Day (3), in a match race for the ages.
