DMac attack on TAB Melbourne Cup


Darren McDonald has a record fourth TAB Melbourne Cup at his mercy following the box draw for the world’s richest greyhound race at Sandown Park this afternoon.

After drawing the cherished box 1, McDonald’s Perth Cup winner Keybow has been installed a $2.40 favourite by tab.com.au.

A win in next Friday’s $600,000 final would elevate Keybow’s prize money to a staggering $763,635, eclipsing the recently retired Xylia Allen’s Australian record.

McDonald’s second runner, Awesome Project was installed a $10 chance despite have been placed in all of his 13 starts at Sandown Park, including eight wins.

The least experienced chaser in the final, the New Zealand bred Above All, has been rated the biggest threat to Keybow after drawing favourably in box 3.

Dyna Villa is also on the second line of betting after drawing box 8. The youngest greyhound in the field, Dyna Villa is undefeated in seven starts at Sandown Park, and will be aiming to give owner Brendan Wheeler a second victory in the race.

New South Wales will be rallying behind its National Sprint Champion Chica Destacada after drawing box 2. The tenacious chaser has been impressive at both of her Sandown Park starts and looks well boxed in the final.

Jeff Britton’s pair Star Recall (box 6) and Cosmic Wise (box 5) were dealt no favours following the box draw, while Geelong Cup winner Luca Neveelk will be vying to give trainer Gerry Kleeven a welcome 72nd birthday present after the pacy beginner drew box 7.

The $600,000 Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup will be run on Friday 21 November.

For the latest TAB market, click here.

 

BoxNumber1_l

Keybow
Trainer: Darren McDonald
Owner: Kelvin Lean
Record: 36 starts 17-7-3 (8 starts 3-1-2 at Sandown, best 29.36)
From box 1: 2 starts 1-1-0
Prize money: $343,635

HEAT REPLAY (heat 4) – 29.36
Trainer Darren McDonald – “He’s in the right form at the right time. He’s been my pick all the way through – the other dogs have gone well but he’s really peaked at the right time. His whole campaign has been built towards this race. He had a little issue leading into the Topgun where he needed the run, but he had a trial after that showed he was back on track and tonight he used the box beautifully. He’s at peak fitness – I’d love to be as fit as him!”

 

BoxNumber2_lChica Destacada
Trainer: Doreen Drynan
Owner: Dee and Pee Syndicate
Record: 34 starts 14-6-3 (2 starts 1-1-0 at Sandown, best 29.22)
From box 2: 3 starts 1-1-0
Prize money: $142,005

HEAT REPLAY (heat 3) – 29.22
Handler Darren McDonald – “She just needs a bit of room early and that’s what she got tonight. She won the Nationals earlier this year so clearly she has a heap of ability, and other greyhounds just don’t seem to be able to get past her – she just keeps fighting and fighting. If she find the front she’ll be hard to beat, probably just needs a wider draw.”

 

BoxNumber3_l

Above All
Trainer: Rob Britton
Owner: Alison Lee
Record: 10 starts 6-2-0 (6 starts 3-2-0 at Sandown, best 29.33)
From box 3: 1 start 1-0-0
Prize money: $29,510

HEAT REPLAY (heat 1) – 29.38
Trainer Robert Britton – “He’s a really fast dog but his box manners aren’t that great. He’s been much better in his last three starts and tonight he got out as good as he has since arriving in the kennel. They’ll go faster as the track improves, so I think the run will be much faster than what it says on the clock.”

 

BoxNumber4_l

Awesome Project
Trainer: Darren McDonald
Owner: Brad Canty
Record: 55 starts 28-7-8 (13 starts 8-3-2 at Sandown, best 29.35)
From box 4: 9 starts 5-0-0
Prize money: $297,745

HEAT REPLAY (heat 2) – 29.39
Trainer Darren McDonald – “He’s a good dog. He’s had a few problems the last few weeks and I’m not sure what it’s been. He wasn’t himself last week (in last week’s Group 2 Macro Meats Shootout) but he showed he’s back to his best tonight.”

 

BoxNumber5_l

Cosmic Wise
Trainer: Jeff Britton
Owner: Brona Lane Racing Syndicate
Record: 59 starts 20-10-8 (19 starts 6-2-1 at Sandown, best 29.40)
From box 5: 7 starts 2-0-0
Prize money: $110,645

HEAT REPLAY (heat 8) – 29.40
Handler Angela Langton – “It was great to see her get through to the final. She needed to draw the red and when she did I thought she was a chance. She’s not the best the greyhound we have in the kennel ability wise, but she’s such a great little chaser. She tries hard and you know she’s always going to give her best.”

 

BoxNumber6_l

Star Recall
Trainer: Jeff Britton
Owner: Kevin Dover
Record: 38 starts 21-7-4 (2 starts 1-0-0 at Sandown, best 29.34)
From box 6: 8 starts 5-2-1
Prize money: $158,305

HEAT REPLAY (heat 5) – 29.34
Handler Angela Langton – “She’s been with us for the last couple of weeks and. She found trouble last week, but this week she didn’t have a lot of pace around so she was able to land on the bunny was always going to be good chance. She nearly broke the track record at Cannington so there’s no question about her ability, she just needs a bit of luck.”

 

BoxNumber7_l

Luca Neveelk
Trainer: Gerald Kleeven
Owner: Paul Kleeven
Record: 27 starts 22-0-3 T/D: 1 starts 1-0-0 at Sandown, 29.42 best)
From box 7: 4 starts 3-0-0
Prize money: $128,865

HEAT REPLAY (heat 7) – 29.42
Trainer Gerald Kleeven – “It’s very exciting! I only trialled him once at Sandown about two weeks ago and he went very well for the first two sections, then got to the home turn and he absolutely compounded. But I had been racing him over 400, 450 meters so I took him to sale last week and he trialled brilliantly so I thought I’d nominate. After the box draw I thought he’d give it a good shake if he could find the lead. I was hoping he’d be a bit further in front but he did enough – wouldn’t want to be any further though!”

 

BoxNumber8_l

Dyna Villa
Trainer: Jenny Hunt
Owner: Brendan Wheeler
Record: 21 starts 13-2-4 (7 starts 7-0-0 at Sandown, 29.21 best)
From box 8: 3 starts 3-0-0
Prize money: $46,635

HEAT REPLAY (heat 6) – 29.21
Handler Tom Mitchell – “He normally jumps well. He just has to get out there clear in front and he always comes home well – he just needs a bit of luck early.”

Reserves Cawbourne Whip (9)for Anthony Azzopardi, and My Bro Fabio (10) for Brooke Ennis.

 

The boxdraw for the $145,000 Group 1 Solo Bold Trease was also determined:

1 Becks (Patrick Bouchier)
2 Zipping Maggie (Peter Dapiran)
3 Sweet It Is (Darren McDonald)
4 Space Star (Robert Britton)
5 Reap The Benefit (Michael Chilcott)
6 Mystic Twist (Mark Cauchi)
7 Coulta Rock (David Curtain)
8 Blinker’s On (Brooke Ennis)
9 Dyna Kayla (Andrea Dailly) (1st Res)
10 Manila Express (Captain Abbott) (2nd Res)

 

For the latest TAB market, click here.
Click here for full results from TAB Melbourne Cup heats night.

 

Both Group 1 final will be run on Friday 21 November. For more information, visit www.superdogs.com.au.