THE Group 2 TAB Bendigo Cup, offering $45,000 to the winner, highlights an outstanding card for Friday night's greyhound racing action at Lord's Raceway in Junortoun.
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With the BGRA shifting the Bendigo Cup to July, tonight's run-off is the second Cup for 2014 and an intriguing field has qualified for what promises to be a terrific race.
One of Victoria's most promising young sprinters, Luca Neveelk is aiming for an 11th consecutive win.
Despite drawn awkwardly in box four he will take a power of beating after a determined 23.87 heat victory.
Having only tasted defeat once in 13 starts, the Gippsland-trained speedster is arguably the fastest greyhound in Friday night's final.
Should he obtain clear running in the early stages he will be the runner to beat.
This Bendigo Cup looks one of the most open country cups in Victoria for some time.
With the aid of the inside draw, Pippa Shiraz has been installed the pre post favourite, but at $3.50 in early TAB fixed odds markets it is an open event.
The bolter of the field, Elite Devil is coming into the race off a city win three runs back and a 23.86 heat win in Bendigo.
Pippa Shiraz's kennel mate Senor Socks is well drawn in box eight, the same box he saluted from in his heat.
In what has been billed as a changing of the guard in country cups in Victoria after the recent retirement of some of the most dominant sprinters in recent memory, only one runner in the Group 2 final has previous experience at black type level.
Warrior King has been placed in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg and Group 2 Horsham Cup and that experience, plus his strength at the end of the 425m trip could come into play.
He drew the same box (seven) that he clocked 23.84 in his heat victory.
Fastest heat winner Zippping Snippy has drawn favourably in box three.
Recent Wagga Cup winner White Spyro, who is blessed with explosive box speed, has drawn box five and could be the hiccup to Luca Neveelk gaining clear running.
The support card includes three other feature finals - the Radio 3BO FM 93.5 Winter Cup, VBIS Maiden Final and Bendigo Advertiser Super GOBIS final.
Littermates Loud One and Gambo Girl have drawn boxes one and two respectively and could quite possibly quinella the $10,000 to the winner staying event.
Impressive heat winner Zipping Maggie and in form Tyra Giselle in boxes seven and eight will also make their presence felt.
Maryborough trainer Joe Borg has a strong hand in the $7500 to the winner VBIS Maiden final after Premier Hawk and Juranda Lass landed impressive heat and semi final wins.
Senor Grumpy and We're Off Here have also impressed during the series.
The Bendigo Advertiser Super GOBIS final is an open affair, despite Agent Jack sizzling around the track in 27.71 in an effortless heat win.
He will no doubt start favourite but from box six will have to be on his best game.
High Speed Chase is drawn to lead from box one and will take plenty of catching.
Grubby and Dr Des scored solid wins last Sunday.
Tips:
R1 : 6, 2, 8, 3
R2 : 3, 2, 8, 1
R3 : 3, 2, 1, 7
R4 : 1, 5, 7, 6
R5 : 1, 6, 2, 5
R6 : 1, 2, 7, 8
R7 : 4, 7, 1, 5
R8 : 3, 2, 8, 1
R9 : 8, 1, 2, 7
R10: 8, 4, 5, 2
R11: 4, 3, 5, 8
R12: 2, 1, 3, 8