Bessy Boo Drawn Well For Melbourne Cup

Bessy Boo faces the sternest of challenges in this Thursday’s Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup (515m) heats but trainer Christine Proctor is hopeful her sprinter can spring a surprise.

This year’s Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic Final winner (pictured) has drawn box one for Thursday’s sixth heat of the $420,000-to-the-winner race at Sandown Park.

Among the opposition is fellow NSW hope Shoulders (box two) and box seven’s flying My Bro Fabio, described by Proctor as “the fastest greyhound in Australia at the moment”.

With a kind box draw and decent trial to his name at least, though, Proctor reckons Bessy Boo can qualify for next Friday’s final.

“The box is a big help for him,” she said. “He just needs to get out of his box.

“We had him in box two over the 600m at The Meadows (last month) and he didn’t start.  He was five lengths behind them from the start.

“This time he has got a better box.

“He is virtually in his prime now so we’ll see what he can do.”

This will be Bessy Boo’s first competitive visit to Sandown Park but he did enjoy at 29.72 trial hitout there last week.

He has been running solidly if not spectacularly in recent weeks, with last month’s win over 520m at Wentworth Park taking his career record to 16 triumphs and 19 placings from 51 starts.

My Bro Fabio has won 11 of his last 14 starts, while Texas Titan (box three) and Dyna Villa in box six also look strong contenders.

“It’s going to be tough,” Proctor, who trains Bessy Boo alongside husband Alan, said.

“My Bro Fabio is the fastest greyhound in the country right now. He’s a great chaser.

“He has got the seven, though, which may not help as he can be slow early on.

“If we get to the final then the adrenalin will be buzzing, but we need to make it first.

“He just needs that bit of luck.”

Recent Group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters winner Lucy Lobster  jumps from box eight in heat one, with SA hope Oakvale Destiny among the opposition.

This year’s Group 1 Nationals winner Chica Destacada  goes from box six in heat three.

Iva Vision, who won last week's Group 2 Macro Meats Shootout (515m) at Sandown Park, has drawn box six for the fourth heat.

Recent Group 1 Topgun winner Buckle Up Wes (Tasmania) jumps from box seven in the eighth heat.