Zack and Tommy Fly The Flag for WA in Group 1 Features
Saturday night at The Meadows is one of the premier nights of chasing on the Australian Greyhound Racing calendar and West Aussie greyhounds Zack Monelli and Tommy Shelby get their chances to play starring roles.
Zack Monelli has drawn box three in the Group 1 Fanta Bale Super Stayers final over the 725 metres and he heads in to the final as the fastest qualifier after leading throughout in his heat, defeating the fast finishing Houdini Boy by a quarter of a length in a time of 42.21 seconds.
For the second consecutive week Zack Monelli broke the second and third split records, carving out very slick fractions on his way around the Broadmeadows circuit.
Zack is currently under the care of Nambrok Mentor Lyn Smith and his full-time mentor, leading WA Trainer David Hobby, will be cheering on from the other side of the nation from Cannington where he holds a strong hand at his local program.
Zack Monelli ran a tremendous race a fortnight ago at the Meadows when 4th in the Group 1 Zoom Top final when beaten just a length and a half by Houdini Boy, Stanley Road and Sunset Bourbski, all of whom he re-opposes on Saturday night.
The TABtouch fixed odds market has Houdini Boy at $2.05, Zack Monelli at $3.50, Sunset Bourbski at $7, Stanley Road at $7.50 and all other runners at $21 and upwards.
It is not always the case in staying events but the first 50 metres of this race is key to the prospects of Zack Monelli.
If he is able to clear Run Like Jess and Here’s Tears in the early stages of the event without any interference his winning prospects improve significantly. Should he not quite nail the start and have to work overtime to get to the top he may find himself using up too many petrol tickets and find himself vulnerable late.
With a clear run Zack Monelli will again run sizzling fractions up front and find some of his key market rivals having to do plenty of work late to run him down.
Zack is well thought of by both punters and bookmakers alike and he is likely to give a great sight.
In the $300,000 to the winner Group 1 TAB Australian Cup final Tommy Shelby is the fastest qualifier after scorching around the 525 metre trip in 29.51 seconds.
Tommy’s Trainer Steve Withers joined Peter O’Neill and David Shortte on Chasing Winners on TAB Radio on Friday morning and was clearly looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead for his star sprinter in the Group 1 Classic.
“It is a great race and all we are hoping for is an opportunity for Tommy to get a clear crack at them.” Withers said.
“He has pulled up really well after his run in the heat last week and while the box draw is not perfect it is not terrible either.”
“Tommy just needs to execute to his best and as we saw in the heats last week if he can do that he is very competitive.” Withers suggested.
The son of Fernando Bale and Serena Fly High has won both of his career outings from box number four but will need to navigate a passage in the early stages in a field that has numerous slick beginners.
“I think back to around Perth Cup time last year and Tommy was really nailing his starts – I’ve kept him nice and fresh this week and hopefully he can execute that start.” Withers said.
For the month of February Tommy’s connections have again kindly offered 10% of his winnings to the WA Bushfire appeal and it is off the back of months of very generous donations to a host of wonderful charities.
The People’s Dog as he has been dubbed heads in to the Australian Cup as the $2.70 favourite on the Fixed Odds with TABtouch with Fernando Bluey at $3.20, Tiggerlong Tonk at $6, Lakeview Cruiser at $8, Shima Classic at $9 and Christo Bale at $14.
Tommy Shelby has raced with distinction against Australia’s best sprinters over the last eight months – his record of 40 starts for 26 wins and 10 placings tells you all you need to know in regards to his consistency.
With an ounce of luck in the early stages the star from the west can play a major part in the finish of one of Australia’s most sought after Group 1 features.
As an added bonus the Wizard from the West William Pike will be on track cheering on Tommy and Zack.
One of Australia’s most popular Jockey’s has a tremendous book of rides earlier in the day at Flemington and it is hoped that a massive day and night lie ahead for the gun hoop.
We can only hope that Pike’s Midas Touch rubs off on Tommy Shelby and Zack Monelli on Saturday night!
Watch out for the Quaddie carryover of $156,000 on races 6,7,8 and 9 on the Meadows card.
Good luck to Zack and Tommy – there is an enormous groundswell of support from their fan base in the west.
David Shortte