By MICHAEL FLOYD
TAB has installed Banjo Boy as favourite for the $50,000 winner-takes-all Group 3 Macro Meats Shootout at Sandown Park this Thursday night.
Banjo Boy, the second fastest greyhound ever to race at Sandown Park, comes into the race on the back of stunning track record equalling run at Warragul on Tuesday. However his trainer Ken Virtue was circumspect as to his charge’s chances next Thursday night.
“I would really have preferred the red,” said trainer Ken Virtue.
“When he ran that time in September he had had three hard runs at Cranbourne and was at peak fitness. He’s had a little let up since then and I’m not sure how much he got out of this run at Warragul earlier in the week.
“To win he needs to lead, cross to the rail and lead by five lengths because they’ll be finishing hard over the top.”
While Banjo Boy is TAB’s top pick for the race, on course bookmaker Michael Harrak took a different view on the four-dog spectacular.
“I think Banjo Boy and Punch One Out have drawn the wrong way around,” he said.
“Punch One Out can lead through the first turn and if she does they won’t run her down.”
Paul Stuart, trainer of dual Group-1 winner Dyna Nalin, was hoping to draw somewhere in the middle and got his wish, drawing box three.
The brilliant Xylia Allen, lining up in her 13th Group final at just two-and-a-half-years of age, has drawn box five – the same box she drew in her stunning placing in last Saturday’s Group 1 Topgun.
The 2013 Macro Meats Shootout – the 15th edition of the race – will carry additional importance for the four finalists with the race forming the first leg of the Million Dollar Sandown Triple Crown. Should the winner of the Shootout go on to win the TAB Melbourne Cup and the Sapphire Crown (bitches) or Harrison-Dawson (dogs), they will pick up a $500,000 bonus as well as the combined $500,000 winner’s cheques from each final.
Entry is free and gates open at 6.00pm.
