Chica Destacada appears to carry NSW’s best hopes of success in the Group 1 ATC Australian Cup (525m) after a tough draw for the state’s five hopefuls.
The $250,000-to-the-winner series starts this Saturday with eight top-quality heats, featuring most of the country's best chasers, at The Meadows.
Chica Destacada (pictured) led early in last Saturday night’s Group 1 Temlee Before fading but looks a decent chance in the fifth heat.
She has drawn box three and has avoided most of the likely series favourites, with recent National Futurity runner-up Spring Leaf the main danger in box four.
Doreen Drynan’s pocket rocket has not been in great form recently but usually travels well and is a proven big-race performer.
Melinda Finn’s Winsome Prince was dealt a tough draw for his first visit to The Meadows.
The chaser, who has won 14 of his first 19 starts, jumps from box six in the opening heat and will face a high-calibre field.
Track record holder and Victorian superstar Allen Deed goes in box four, while last Saturday night’s Group 1 Rookie Rebel winner Cosmic Wise (box five) and dangerous box eight chance Gorham Bale also feature.
Allen Deed has been a little below-par recently, with Cosmic Wise looking the pick on current form.
Finn’s second hope, Anything Less, has the red rug for heat three but will face a daunting field including Above All, Kerrigan Bale and Dyna Double One.
Anything Less is a big danger from this box but it is tough to look beyond Dyna Double One, who won the Group 1 Silver Chief in December and is returning from a strong trip to WA.
NSW pair Ritza Hattie and Winsome Mission go from boxes six and seven respectively in the seventh heat, with the main danger here being Luca Neveelk (box three).
Ritza Hattie has run well Before in Victoria and although she would be stronger in the inside boxes, she is in fairly solid form and can win here.
My Bro Fabio, the current talk of the greyhound racing world after making it two Group 1 titles in a week with last Saturday night’s Temlee, jumps from box seven in the sixth heat.
Victorian Space Star goes from box one in the first of four Group 1 Super Stayers (725m) heats, which will also be run this Saturday at the Meadows.
Jeff Britton’s superb greyhound is chasing a fourth consecutive Group title.
The Australian Cup final takes place on Saturday, March 7.
Check out the odds for the Australian Cup heats with Sportsbet by clicking here.
