Zambora Brockie fired the first shot ahead of Friday night’s $50,000 winner-takes-all Shootout with a resounding all of the way win at Sandown Park tonight.
After a luckless run in last Saturday’s Topgun, the dual group 1 winner was sent to the boxes the $1.40 favourite and didn’t disappoint, jumping straight to the front and winning in 29.40.
CLICK HERE for the latest Shootout market from tab.com.au.
Zambora Brockie boasts a best time of 29.14 at Sandown Park and trainer Anthony Azzopardi believes there is a lot of improvement to come from his superstar.
“I was hoping that he’d race up to the standard he’s been trialling,” said Azzopardi (pictured above following Zambora Brockie’s win in September’s Speed Star).
“He’s clearly run the fastest time of the night and the track wasn’t fast. He’ll be a lot fitter next week.”
Billed as the speed championship of Australia, the unique format brings together four of Australia’s fastest chasers as selected by the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club and Greyhound Racing Victoria. To minimise the chances of interference during the race, finalists were drawn at random and connections given the opportunity to choose their box from which they’ll start. Zambora Brockie was the last greyhound drawn but the result didn’t faze Azzopardi.
“I think he’s the likely leader – box 5 isn’t going to worry him,” he said.
“In my opinion Dundee Osprey is the dog to beat but they’re all great dogs and all are capable of winning.”
Following the draw, tab.com.au installed Dundee Osprey the $2.50 favourite for the event ahead of Zambora Brockie ($3). Dundee Osprey was the first greyhound drawn for the box draw and trainer Geoff Scott-Smith had no hesitation in selecting box 1. Queenslander Outside Pass ($3.50) will jump from box 3, while South Australian Worm Burner ($7.50) will exit box 7.
Later in the night, Worm Burner closed out his preparations with a dazzling 9 length victory at Angle Park. Jumping from box 8, the National Sprint Champion found trouble at the first turn before sweeping around the field to take the lead down the back straight and power away from his rivals to record his 33rd victory at his home track.
The Shootout kicks off the three week Sandown Superdogs carnival on Friday 4 November which culminates in the world’s richest greyhound race, the $600,000 TAB Melbourne Cup, on Friday 18 November.
Click here for more on the Shootout finalists.
Zambora Brockie rounds out his Shootout preparations with an impressive victory
