THE box draw for Thursday night’s Group 1 Wrest Point Hobart Thousand has done little more than even up the field to contest Tasmania’s richest and most prestigious greyhound event.
Local star Damek won his heat to keep his unbeaten record on the track intact but it was the Victorian interstate invaders Octane Show and Dee Winter that stole the show with record-breaking runs in winning their respective heats.
The draw has levelled the field with Damek drawing four, Octane Show will start from box six and Dee Winter will carry the black vest.
Trainers of the above mentioned trio were all keen to draw box eight but that marble fell to Damek’s litter brother Decembrist, which put him in with a chance to keep the $75,000 winner’s purse in Tasmania.
Adding further interest is Numero Uno Bale that drew the coveted inside alley which has given the Brendan Wheeler-trained NSW dog a huge chance of snaring his first Group 1 victory.
The Darren McDonald-trained Octane Show broke Damek’s track record when he clocked a sizzling 25.75 in winning his heat impressively from box six.
Octane Show has the same box in the final, so it is understandable that he has been installed the early favourite at 9-4.
Dee Winter also drew box six in his heat and he goes wider to start from box seven but it should not be a problem as Octane Show is likely to run in a straight line to the top turn giving the Ray Henness-trained dog an unimpeded run, provided McDonald’s finalist does the right thing.
Numero Uno Bale had great form in NSW and Victoria before heading to Tasmania and drawing box one in the final will be extremely helpful, provided he doesn’t miss the start.
With so much speed outside of him, Numero Uno Bale will have to fly the lids if he is to be a contender at the business end of the race.
McDonald’s other finalist is Perfect fancy that won his heat from box three and he is well situated in box two but he also has to begin well to be any sort of chance.
Damek missed the start slightly in his heat but his incredible speed once he hits the ground is usually what sets him apart from his rivals but Octane Show’s early splits were almost identical to Damek’s and he may have improvement in him at what will be his second try on the track this time in.
If trainer Eileen Thomas can have Damek at his peak then the local star could still have what it takes to clinch Group 1 glory.
His litter brother Decembrist (Big Daddy Cool-World’s Finest) has not produced scintillating times or ever broken 26 seconds on the Hobart layout but he is very well suited in box eight.
If there is any carnage heading to the top turn then the Peter Phillips-trained dog becomes a contender.
The other local to make it to the final is the Gary Greig-trained Octane Assassin.
While Octane Assassin’s form had been a hit and miss in the months leading up to the series, the dog has started to race more keenly and he has a bulldog’s spirit and from box two he has the courage to forge a path where some others might not fear to tread.
The Kelly Bravo-trained Kilty Lad won his heat carrying the pink vest but he has a tendency to begin only moderately and from box five he is going to need a lot of luck to figure in the finish as his winning time of 26.13 was the slowest of the heat winners that ran on a fast and dry surface.
Octane Assassin clocked the slowest time of 26.29 but he ran his heat on a rain affected surface.
His time became inconsequential as he won his heat by 10 lengths.
Hobart Thousand market:
9-4 Octane Show; 5-2 Damek; 4-1 Dee Winter; 11-2 Perfect Fancy; 6-1 Numero Uno Bale; 8-1 Kelly Bravo; 16-1 Octane Assassin, Decembrist.
Peter Staples’ selections:
1 – Damek.
2 – Octane Show.
3 – Dee Winter.
4 – Perfect Fancy.