The road to the TAB Melbourne Cup shifts up a gear tonight with the running of Prelude Series 2.
We were all keenly anticipating the return of Aston Fastnet however he has been withdrawn due to a minor setback.
“It’s nothing major, just a bit of a hip issue. If the race was on Saturday or Sunday we probably would’ve put him around. He’ll be back for the last set of Preludes in two weeks and then into the Melbourne Cup heats,” said trainer Jason Thompson on RSN Central.
Rebellious (pictured) will fly the flag for the team after a stunning win last week in fast time of 29.11 – he lines up in the third of tonight’s Preludes.
Thompson said it’s a rise in class for ‘Danny’ but expects that he’ll get his chance.
“Obviously he’s talented but this is no doubt his biggest test to date. He’s taking on quality dogs in a Melbourne Cup Prelude. He went very well last week but that was only a fifth grade, he’s got to step up to the plate tonight.
“He’s drawn really well, looking at the dogs around him as long as he can begin safely he will get a clear run, if that’s the case then the rest is going to be up to him. He’s drawn where he wants to be and the dogs around him are going to give him room.”
Outside of Preludes the team has Amnesty in Race 3 over 595m. She’s aiming for a hat-trick of city wins.
“She’s only lightly raced but I thought she handled herself really well last week. She was pretty brave as she was pressured for the whole race. It’s a similar draw and similar field tonight, if she does what she did last week she should be pretty hard to beat.”
The kennel also has Decimate in Race 12 who is rated a $6.50 chance with TAB.
Sandown Park track record holder Aston Rupee headlines tonight’s final Prelude which is Race 8 at 9.37pm. It’ll be his first race since the G1 Adelaide Cup where he finished 4th.
All TAB Melbourne Cup Preludes are exemption events in which winners gain a spot in heats of the world’s greatest greyhound race on Friday November 19. Greyhounds must compete in a Prelude or have won an exemption race to be eligible for the heats.
All finalists of the four-dog Shootout on Thursday November 11 will also be exempt into heats.
Click here for tonight’s fields
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