The Group 3 Ladbrokes Goulburn Cup (440m) is up for grabs again this Friday, October 27 and the field assembled is full of emerging and established stars.
The powerful Andy and Jodie Lord kennel has three key runners in the decider with Nangar Larry the current race favourite. Jason Magri has been in fine form of late and Zipping Novak qualified fastest for the feature final. While Quantifiable continues her stellar 2023 with another big race appearance.
Here’s a closer look at the final Ladbrokes Goulburn Cup field:
It’s a gun draw for one of the most consistent beginners in the field but if she misses it whatsoever from Box 1 (like she did in the heat), her race will well and truly be over.
The heat run was solid without being spectacular (24.87) but she was uncharacteristically slow away and then was forced to work her way through the field just to qualify behind tearaway speedster Nangar Larry.
Nangar Jim is boxed next door and will fly early so she will need to keep pace with him if she’s a chance of pulling off the biggest win of her 37-start career.
Her PB at track and trip would put her right in the race but it’s not traditionally a bitches race so it feels like her best chance is to lead and hope for some jostling in behind to sneak away down the big, open Goulburn straight.
Another dog drawn well considering the explosive early pace he has up his sleeve and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t lead them to the bend.
Still just a baby with only 15 career runs next to his name so the natural query is how will he go among some established chasers?
Tried valiantly behind Coin Model all the way to the post in the heat and the kennel think he’s got a few more tenths in him at his best. Third up could suit as well.
The son of Aston Dee Bee x Nangar Silk already has nine wins and four minors on his record and he seems to be getting better each time he steps out, so could he make a splash and capture his first feature final? Has been well supported in betting this week and looms as the best each way chance.
Andy Lord said she was the fastest greyhound he’s ever had after the heat win last week and we all know he’s had some rippers over the years so she must be showing plenty in her work at home to earn that high praise.
Last week’s heat victory was superb considering she did it first up after six months off the track and you’d imagine she’d take great benefit from that 24.69 effort.
She ran sixth in the Nowra Puppy Classic back in April but it’s the only defeat she’s suffered in five starts this year.
She’ll need some luck considering she’s wedged between two handy ones but it is her home track and she’s got a stack of upside.
Probably deserves to be favourite considering he ran the fastest time in the heats, but I guess the Box 4 draw makes things a little bit trickier.
Not a stack of pace from Coin Model in Box 3 though and Scorching Boy (Box 5) should go straight so there is a world where Zipping Novak can attach onto the back of the speed battle between Quantifiable and Nangar Jim and pounce once they spin around the Goulburn bend.
A 29.49 winner at Wenty Park two back, a 29.17 winner at Gosford four back, and a 29.27 winner at Goulburn last week. That is some form.
And Jason Magri (who is flying at the moment) did declare about two months ago that Zipping Novak was set to peak in the back half of the year so let’s see what he can produce.
A deserved finalist after fending off Bandit Bullet in the heats by 0.01 of a second and qualifying with the fourth fastest time of 24.69 behind Zipping Novak.
He had no luck in the Wagga Regional Final of the MDC in September but he was a handy heat winner the week before over multiple Group finalist in Dundee Smokey. He also has a close up third behind Victorian rising star Tim Zoo on the recent record.
It’s the first ever feature final for Jess Fothergill and Clint Colaiacovo so we wish them all the best but it’s going to be tough from the squeeze box despite his consistency. Yet to win in four goes at the Goulburn 440m.
Subject of a massive plunge in betting last week so it may pay to watch the market as Nangar Larry makes the walk to the boxes.
Slashing heat winner in 24.29 and looked like having the low mark of the day until Zipping Novak pipped him in the fourth and final preliminary.
Another relatively young chaser with only 20 starts to his name, ‘Larry’ looks to have settled into his new kennel after joining the Lord camp ahead of the MDC series.
The big question mark here, what does Canya Smurfette do out of the boxes and how will that impact his race? Last week she certainly annoyed Fire Hose out of the race and if she can cross Nangar Larry, he might find it had to get around her on the bend.
The other outsider in the field will go around for Michelle Lill after boldly leading for half of last week’s heat run before One Hot Bandit powered home underneath her.
That was her first race start at Goulburn and it showed when a little wayward on the bend, so if she can bounce out again and get near the front, an improved effort on turning may have her at the pointy end of the race for a lot longer than people think.
Only a diminutive chaser at 24kg so gives away plenty of size, and on the big 440m track you’d think she’d need a lot of luck to make the frame.
A big loping type who is perfectly boxed out wide and just needs to stay in touch early days to be a major threat. A MDC finalist two weeks ago, he’s got an almost perfect pink box record and has two wins at the track already under his belt.
Got some luck in his heat but the time of 24.62 was slick, and if Canya Smurfette does as expected and bolts out, he may get a nice track into the contest. Home track advantage and in the right kennel.
.jpg)
