Friday 5th December, 2008

2008 GROUP 2 PETSTOCK BALLARAT CUP
WEDNESDAY 10 TH DECEMBER @ 9.28PM

The Watchdog selects: 8 – 1 – 2 - 6

1. MOGAMBO Odds - $2
Group Race Honours:
Group Two The Great Chase – finalist
Track Records:
Ballarat – 30.64
Fast Times:
Ballarat – 24.89
Geelong – 25.62
Bendigo – 24.13
Meadows – 29.76
Sandown – 29.52
The Watchdog says: Gifted chaser when right, who gave nothing else a chance when he began brilliantly last week and roared away up the straight before recording a sizzling 25.00 heat win. Has won here in a breathtaking 24.89 previously and from his favourable draw he should be able to settle in a prominent position and he will then have the tough task of running down his brilliant kennelmate Vee Man Vane. Is definitely the fastest chaser in the race but he has been known to make mistakes on the odd occasion.

2. BOUNDING BILLY Odds - $6
Group Race Honours:
Group One Australian Cup - finalist
Group Two Ballarat Cup (2007) – runner up
Group Two Warrnambool Cup – finalist
Track Records:
Healesville - 17.99
Fast Times:
Ballarat - 24.88
Meadows – 29.89
Sandown – 29.82
Warrnambool – 25.22
Bendigo – 24.28
Geelong – 25.40
The Watchdog says: Was runner up in last year’s final and he returned to his brilliant best when scoring a slick 25.18 heat win here last week. Has an explosive turn of foot but can be tardy at box rise on occasions. Has broken the magical 25 second barrier here a number of times and if he can get room to move in the first 50 metres he should be fighting out the finish.


3. SISCO CRUISE Odds - $16
Group Race Honours:
Group Two Geelong Cup – finalist
Fast Times:
Ballarat - 25.26
Meadows - 30.22
Geelong - 25.58
Horsham – 27.09
The Watchdog says: Recent Geelong Cup finalist who used his rails draw to advantage when scoring a handy 25.26 heat win last week. Has been racing in career best form of late, however, he can be tardy to begin at times and he can ill afford to make any mistakes in this company. Is a place hope with some luck in the early stages.

4. TUNZA PACE Odds - $33
First Group Final
Fast Times:
Ballarat – 25.27
Shepparton – 22.16
Shepparton – 25.49
Cranbourne – 30.49
The Watchdog says: Speared straight to the front and never looked in doubt when he scored a smart 25.27 heat win here last week. Appearing in his first Group race final and will definitely find the going tough from his awkward draw.

5. PEDRO’S REALITY Odds - $10
First Group Final
Fast Times:
Ballarat - 25.04
Sandown – 29.94
Horsham - 27.41
The Watchdog says: Inexperienced chaser who used box one to advantage when scoring a sizzling 25.04 heat win here last week. Is not generally known for his blinding early speed and he can not afford to make any mistakes in the early stages. If he happens to step cleanly at box rise like last week he looms as a definite place hope.

6. SHANAHAN BALE Odds - $12
First Group Final
Fast Times:
Ballarat – 25.22
Bendigo – 24.08
Sandown – 30.22
Horsham – 27.22
Geelong – 25.87
The Watchdog says: Highly promising chaser who turned in a huge performance to hold off the brilliant Turanza Bale last week in a slick 25.22. Has the ability to lead or come from behind in his races and with a clear run he is capable of reeling off sizzling sectionals. If he happens to begin cleanly and settles in the leading division he should be in the mix for a long way.

7. SWAN MARSH Odds - $21
First Group Final
Fast Times:
Ballarat – 25.23
Warrnambool – 25.40
Warragul – 24.26
The Watchdog says: Had to work hard to find the lead in his heat before going on to score in 25.53 which was the slowest of the eight heats. Has a top record over this trip and is more than capable on his night, however this is by far his toughest assignment and he tends to make a lot of mistakes in his races. Prefer to watch this time around.

8. VEE MAN VANE Odds - $3.40
Group Race Honours:
Group Two Shepparton Cup (2007) – Runner up
Group Two Shepparton Cup (2008) – Third
Track Records:
Shepparton – 21.79
Warrnambool – 21.82
Geelong – 19.34
Fast Times:
Ballarat – 25.18
Warragul – 23.88
Shepparton - 25.06
Geelong – 25.51
Gold Coast – 22.65
Maitland – 25.59
Maitland – 22.70
The Watchdog says: Explosive type who shanghaied out of the boxes in his brilliant 25.18 heat win last week and he broke the 390m track records at Warrnambool and Shepparton in his previous two starts. Couldn’t have asked for a better draw and he is arguably the quickest greyhound in the country over the first 200m. With not a lot of early pace drawn directly inside of him he should find the early lead comfortably and he may look the winner turning for home.

RESERVES

9. CRACKED ICE Odds - $21
First Group Final
Fast Times:
Ballarat – 25.59
Warragul - 24.25
Meadows – 30.10
Traralgon – 30.02
Sandown – 30.09
The Watchdog says: Showed great acceleration to find the early lead in his heat and was just gunned down by the brilliant Bounding Billy in the shadows of the post. Has been working his way through the grades of late in smart fashion and if he happened to gain a start from a favourable draw he may run a cheeky race.

10. TURANZA BALE Odds - $10
Group Race Honours:
Group Two SA Derby – Winner
Group Three Silver Bullet – Third
Fast Times:
Sandown – 29.79
Geelong – 25.44
Angle Park – 29.66
The Watchdog says: Was slow to begin and rocketed home to be narrowly beaten in his heat. Is a gifted chaser at his best and he has an explosive turn of foot when he hits the ground. Already a Group Two winner and if he happened to gain a start he would prove hard to hold out.