Group winner Brad Hill Billy and highly promising duo Old Timer and Tap Out Axe head the nominations for Monday’s four Ladbrokes Bathurst Gold Cup (520m) heats.
Brad Hill Billy (pictured), whose super 2015 includes winning the Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint, jumps from box three in the second heat and looks a strong chance for the $14,000-to-the-winner series.
After an unsuccessful short stint in Victoria, Brad Hill Billy won on his first start over the 618m at Bathurst on December 21.
His time of 36.83 that day was a strong effort in wet conditions and although he has never won in five previous starts wearing the white rug, he looks the one to beat here.
Kennelmate Dandy Jack goes from box five in the first heat, where Benji’s Friend (box eight) looks the one to watch.
Her record of 20 wins and 14 minor placings from 43 starts includes four victories from 10 visits to Bathurst and she is decent from wide draws too.
Old Timer, from the gun David Pringle kennel, jumps from box two in the third heat fresh from two placings on his first two Wentworth Park starts.
He was a finalist in recent three-week Bathurst RSL Soldier’s Saddle series, run over the same distance, having scored a terrific 29.80 win in the semi-finals.
Soldier’s Saddle winner Tap Out Axe jumps from box two in the fourth heat looking to continue his impressive early racing career.
He has won three times and placed four times in seven starts so far, including a 30.11 win at Wentworth Park on December 23.
This heat also features Midnight Kate (box seven), who has won three of her first five starts and has trialled at Bathurst in 29.97.
A tempting roughie for the series could be Aqua Cheetah, who jumps from box five in the second heat.
The John Ayoub-trained greyhound had a 30.19 win on debut Wentworth Park on December 23 from box four and has also trialled well at Bathurst.
The final of the Ladbrokes Bathurst Gold Cup takes place on Friday, January 15.
For Bathurst Monday fields and form, click here.
