It’s week two of the $400,000 group 2 Launching Pad series and while the punters were on the mark for most of heats night, there were a few unexpected results that make this week’s semi finals all the more intriguing.
1. Spreading the love
25 different trainers are represented in tonight’s Launching Pad semi finals across four states. Robert Britton, Jeff Britton and Darren Pattinson have three starters each, Andrea Dailly two.
2. Can’t buy experience
There were 19 greyhounds making their Sandown Park racing debut in last week’s Launching Pad heats but just one won its heat (Knock Wave). Three more ran a place, meaning 15 out of 19 Sandown Park debutants went home without prize money. Not only had eight of the nine heat winners already ready raced at Sandown Park, all but one (Brueghelino) had already won at Sandown Park.
3. That’s dedication
Matt Lanigan continues to chalk up the miles. Tonight marks the third consecutive week the 24 year old trainer has made the 740km round trip from his Swan Hill home to the home of Australian greyhound racing after trialling his greyhounds on the Saturday prior to the Launching Pad heats. It’s around a 10 hour round trip, meaning that if Zipping Hooch makes next week’s Launching Pad final (or Zipping Quinsee reaches the consolation final), he’ll have spent around 40 hours in the car travelling 2960kms to try and win the $150,000 Launching Pad first prize.
4. Launching Pad not the only highlight?
The 2016 Launching Pad semi-finals was a fantastic night of racing, but the highlight came from the Free For All which saw Unlawful Entry break Bekim Bale’s 515m track record, running 28.951
5. Pretty in pink
Polijuice Potion has the opportunity to tick off another unique achievement. If she’s successful in race 9 tonight, it will not only give her a win from every box from 1-8, it would give a win from every box at Sandown Park.
Elsewhere…
The first nine heats of the rich Bendigo Gold Rush Maiden series kick off tonight. Now in its 13th year, the club received 131 entries for the series with some outstanding prospects vying for the $10,000 first prize in the final on Easter Sunday. Past winners of the series include Prang, Dyna Bert and Ima Geisha Girl, while Grigorieva Bale, Peter Rocket and Dyna Lachlan are just some of the stars of the sport to come through the series. Fields here
Box draw for the Launching Pad final
The box draw for the $210,000 group 2 Launching Pad will be conducted on course following race 9. We will be streaming the box draw live on our Facebook page from 10pm.
The good thing: Mepunga Blazer (race 5 number 8)
Each way all day: Quick Jagger (race 6 number 8)
Click here for your free Watchdog form guide for tonight’s meeting.
Click here for the latest markets from tab.com.au. TAB account holders can access race previews from Sky Racing greyhound expert Mark Duclos.
Click here for Jason Adams’ Sandown preview, as heard on RSN – Racing and Sport
Social Media
Follow all the news from the track and join the conversation on Twitter @sandowndogs and use the #LaunchingPad hashtag.
