THE final of the Dowling McCarthy Hankook Tyres Group 3 Devonport Cup promises to be one of the best in the race’s long history after most of the state’s top greyhounds qualified with heat wins at the Devonport Showground yesterday.
Two of the state’s star performers Rewind and Damek scored impressive wins along with quality bitch Miss Roman Nose and the much improved Katsidis from the Debbie Cannan kennel.
Rewind was having his first start since finishing a half-head second to Melbourne Cup winner Dyna Tron in the Group One Hobart Thousand at Elwick last month.
Rewind was the quickest of the eight heat winners, clocking 25.64s for the 452-metre trip, hitting the line over seven lengths clear of his nearest rival Rob Pines.
Damek also was impressive given he was squeezed out of it at the top turn and looked gone but he showed courage to barge through a gap nearing the home turn and powered home along the rails to defeat race leader Brumby Bomber by almost two lengths in a time of 25.83.
However Damek will have to be at his absolute best in next Tuesday’s final as he has drawn box six.
Victorian trainer Graeme Bate will be attempting to win his third Devonport Cup with his smart sprinter Classy Maldini that led throughout to win his heat.
Classy Maldini ran quick splits to notch a time of 25.77s and his trainer said the dog can improve lengths as it was the dog’s first look at the track.
Veteran trainer Keith Nichols has two finalists in liter sisters Portrait Ignites and Pretty In Blue.
Brighton trainer Debbie Cannan won the race last year with St Pierre and she is hoping to make it back-to-back Devonport Cups with her latest kennel star Katsidis that was impressive in leading all the way to win his heat.
Outsider Decibel scored a shock win in his heat for trainer Mick Louth scoring over Sandbanker and Classic Camdale in a time of 25.91.
Box draw for the Group 3 Devonport Cup final:
1 – Classy Maldini.
2 – Portrait Ignites.
3 – Decibel.
4 – Miss Roman Nose.
5 – Katsidis.
6 – Damek.
7 – Pretty In Blue.
8 – Rewind.
Reserves.
9 – Clyde’s Angel.
10- Miki Moto Mike.