The fourth and final leg of Greyhound Racing Victoria’s Gippsland Carnival is almost underway with five heats of the Group Two Casey Steel Cranbourne Cup drawn this afternoon.
The winners and the three fastest seconds will advance through to the Cranbourne Cup which will be held over the 520 metre distance on Saturday night.
Heat one will most likely see Up Hill Jill jump as the favourite despite being her first trip to Cranbourne. The locals are heavily represented in the opening heat with He Shall Johnny, Why Not Ginger, Rapanui Reveller, Monster Machine and Cosmic Tilly.
Up Hill Jill and He Shall Johnny are they only greyhounds in this heat with group race experience, with Up Hill Jill having claimed multiple group events, most notably the Group One Topgun. While He Shall Johnny finished sixth in the Group Two Great Chase to Despacito.
Traralgon Cup winner Poke The Bear will aim to take out another leg of the Gippsland Carnival following a dominant performance last week. The most inexperienced in the field, Poke The Bear will have to contend with Gippsland Carnival leader Monster Fish who is 10 points ahead of Jesaulenko and are both aiming for the $14,000 Gippsland Carnival Bonus.
The Gippsland Carnival incorporated the 2017 Sale Cup (650m) and Gippsland Carnival Launch (440m), which were both held on Boxing Day, as well as the 2018 Warragul Cup (January 13), Traralgon Cup (January 26) and Cranbourne Cup (February 10).
The highest points scorer throughout the entire Gippsland Carnival will receive $14,000, with $4,000 and $2,000 to go to the second and third highest points scorers respectively (see leader board below)
Heat three sees the Queensland trained Maurice Minor who also contended a heat of the Traralgon Cup where he finished fourth jumping from box five. Maurice Minor is no stranger to travel, having competed in group races throughout Australia but has been unable to snag group race glory.
Heat four will see NSW raider Mr Pupparazzi step back in distance after recording a win over the 600 metres at Dapto last start. He is yet to taste group success in his 25 start career but a city win at The Meadows in December will work to his favour.
Cranbourne regular Reckoning, who has recorded the fastest win at Cranbourne in his heat (29.95sec) is jumping from box four in hope of turning his four placings into a first.
Mossimo Bale wraps up the Dailly’s chances in the Cranbourne Cup heats having nominated six strong contenders for the group two heats.
