Cosmic Bonus was backed as if unbeatable to win his heat of the Master Meteor at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night, and while the margin at the finish was not enormous, the performance was impressive, and those who collected in the heat, are likely to back up in the final.
Showing all his customary early dash, Cosmic Bonus motored once he hit the ground, and led the field around the first turn. Once in that role, it was unlikely any of his rivals would run him down, although Tamaar Tux did get within half a length, as the winner posted best of the night figures of 29.87s.
The Masters racing has proven to be a tremendous success in NSW, extending the racing careers of many greyhounds. As part of that initiative, the Masters Meteor was born, and Cosmic Bonus and his seven rivals will race for a $100,000 first prize in the final on October 20, the same night as the running of the inaugural GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Chase Grand Final night.
Cosmic Bonus – who has now won 35 of his 75 starts - came up with box one in the final, while Tamaar Tux will jump for the three.
Another fancy with punters in the Masters Meteor heats was Blabba Mouth, and like Cosmic Bonus he delivered.
Having clocked 29.78s in finishing second behind Tamaar Tux at Wentworth Park on September 19, Blabba Mouth then posted 29.93s winning at headquarters the following week, performances which made him extremely appealing to punters.
Jumping well, Blabba Mouth sat behind the leader Barney Brann, but swooped on the lead turning out of the back and raced away for an easy win in 30.01s. Blabba Mouth drew well in the two in the final.
Carly Absalom’s Celestial Folk ran home strongly for second, and a spot in the rich final.
Favourite backers were on extremely good terms with themselves in the second heat when short-priced pick Liberty Lee jumped brilliantly and led by three passing the post the first time. She opened up that lead to six up the back straight, but swinging for home the steps started to get shorter, and $31 chance Frekey stormed past the favourite much to the horror of many punters.
Frekey clocked a slow 30.50s, but it wasn’t about times, it was about booking a place in the $100,000 final. Liberty Lee, while disappointing, held on for second and gets her shot for redemption on October 20.
In the fourth and final heat of the Masters Meteor, Springcreek Bill rattled home late to grab the lead and victory, and start what her trainer Donna Campbell hopes is a big week.
Campbell has Big Black engaged in the semi-finals of the Million Dollar Chase on Friday after winning the Maitland Regional Final last month, and now she already has a runner on Chase grand final night, with Springcreek Bill into the $100,000 final.
Again those who backed the fancied runner Black Hole Sun were smiling on the turn out of the back when he ran to the lead. But while most expected he would race away, Springcreek Bill charged home and scored an emphatic win.
Springcreek Bill only just scraped into the series. As part of the criteria for entry into the Masters Meteor, dogs had to be Masters greyhounds and as such over 45 months, but also had to have a minimum of 40 starts at the time of nominations. Last night was Springcreek Bill’s 41st start.
BOX DRAW FOR MASTERS METEOR
1-Cosmic Bonus
7-Celestial Folk
8-Frekey
10-Spring Solomon
