Box draws matter in every race. But when you’re racing the best sprinters in the country, they matter that much more.
The margin for error at the top levels of the sport is so slim as to be non-existent. And with each quality of each TAB Melbourne Cup heat worthy of a group race in its own right, a greyhound needs to do everything right – twice – to claim the world’s greatest greyhound race.
Draw well and the dream of TAB Melbourne Cup glory becomes that much closer to reality. Draw poorly and the Cup dream may well remain a dream.
So, who were the winners and losers from this year’s Cup heats draw? Here’s how the TAB reacted.
Click here for the latest TAB markets.
WINNERS
Handsome Prince
$17 in the ‘pre-nominations’ market, $7.50 all-in
Tasmanian-bred and New South Wales-trained, Handsome Prince handled his first look at a Victorian track like pro when trialling between races last Thursday night. The TAB Million Dollar Chase winner jumped from box 2 and ran the sixth fastest time of 2020, stopping the clock in 29.128. As impressive as that was, it was his second split time of 18.49 that set tongues wagging. His middle section of 13.41 just 0.01 seconds off Simon Told Helen’s unofficial middle split record. There’s a number of smart chasers in his heat – you’d expect nothing less in a TAB Melbourne Cup heat – but drawing box 2 will give him every opportunity to repeat that dazzling middle section on Friday night.
Handsome Prince’s stunning exhibition trial at Sandown Park
Tiggerlong Tonk
$17 in the ‘pre-nominations’ market, $12 all-in
He won the Shootout in race record time 29.034, the third fastest gallop of 2020, so it was somewhat of a surprise he was remained at such a big price for the Cup especially when you couple the win with the fact that he boasts an 8-5-2 record from his previous 20 starts at the track, along with a group 3 win and two sub-29.15 wins. Despite drawing box 4 on Friday – it’s been eight starts since he’s drawn any closer to the fence – the distinct lack of box speed around him should give him every opportunity of reaching his fourth group race final in five starts.
Tiggerlong Tonk wins the Shootout in race record time
Hard Style Rico
$17 in the ‘pre-nominations’ market, $12 all-in
Was well fancied in the Shootout but was unable to replicate his 29.46 performance in the group 3 Silver Bullet at The Meadows the start prior. While beaten 3.75 lengths by Tiggerlong Tonk, he did run 29.29 in his own right which is two lengths faster than the average Cup heat winning run. Has been crying out for a wide draw and will get plenty of room to move from box 8..
Hard Style Rico wins the Silver Bullet in the fifth fastest time ever run at The Meadows to win the group 3 Silver Bullet
LOSERS
Catch The Thief
$10 in the ‘pre-nominations’ market, $31 all-in
Not only has he drawn arguably the hardest Cup heat, he’s drawn box 6 to boot. Just three Cup heats have been won from box 6 over the last five years, and while Catch The Thief has four wins in the green vest, he was unplaced in his two most recent outings from that box – the Geelong Cup and Topgun. Trialled 29.44 last Saturday, but we know he’s a better greyhound than that.
Catch The Thief wins in 29.21
Dr Tucker
$17 in the ‘pre-nominations’ market, $31 all-in
The new pup on the scene, Dr Tucker has already been compared to Simon Told Helen which speaks volumes of his ability. However he’ll need to show every bit of that ability and more to cross from box 8. He was unable to cross from box 7 in a Prelude last week, but if he can find a way on Friday, he can run 29.20s which few of his rivals could match.
Dr Tucker wins on his Sandwon debut in a sizzling 29.28
Aussie Secret
$17 in the ‘pre-nominations’ market, $41 all-in
Trainer Jason Thompson has often been quoted as saying Aussie Secret is the one dog in the kennel that he’s most keen to see in the series, and despite drawing box 1 in his heat, the bookmakers more than doubled his quote. He has 12 wins from 18 starts (including three from box 1), however most of that form has been on one-turn tracks and his only win at the track was a modest 29.69. He can go faster and is capable of carving out brilliant sections and that is crucial to winning at the top level.
Aussie Secret carves out Melbourne Cup worthy splits
The winner of each TAB Melbourne Cup heat will progress to the $630,000 final on Friday 27th November.
Click here for fields and form
