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Ultimate guide to the Group 1, $215,500 Topgun at The Meadows

The Group 1 Topgun is one of the biggest events in Australian greyhound racing. We take a look at the key runners, tips and everything else you need to know about Saturday night.

Molly Haines
11 min read
November 8, 2019 - 2:02PM
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They were once brothers in arms, but now the people’s greyhound Feral Franky and Million Dollar Chase winner Good Odds Harada will put all brotherly love aside when they battle it out for the Group 1 TAB Topgun title at The Meadows.

The litter brothers have been hand selected alongside six of Australia’s fastest greyhounds to compete in the $215,500 Topgun (525m), a feat NSW breeders Barry Ward and Mark Walden should be very proud of.

Together Feral Franky and Good Odds Harada have banked more than $1.5 million dollars in prizemoney thanks to 41 wins from their collective 79 starts.

Despite Good Odds Harada looking a little more of the goods on paper, having snared last month’s $1m first prize in the Million Dollar Chase, the phenomenon of Feral Franky is something that has NSW trainer Jack Smith pinching himself.

“If you had of told me 12 months ago that I would be on radio all the time talking about a dog I trained I wouldn’t believe you,” Smith said following the TAB Topgun box draw on 7mate’s Thrill of the Chase program.

Feral Franky with trainer Jack Smith.
Feral Franky with trainer Jack Smith.

“I have enjoyed every second of this. He (Feral Franky) has had 36 starts and has never put in a bad run, so I don’t feel any pressure when he goes around despite all of the eyes on him.”

Feral Franky has proven on the track that he isn’t just a catchy name for punters and the world of social media.

In preparation for a Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup campaign Jack Smith put Feral Franky in a Free For All at Sandown Park last week against one of the sport’s hottest prospects – Hooked On Scotch.

The mouth-watering battle didn’t disappoint with the duo finishing first and second, with Feral Franky taking out honours in a scintillating 29.08 sec performance – the fastest time recorded over the 515 metres at Sandown this year.

“Melbourne hasn’t seen the best of Feral Franky,” Smith said. “He is a once in a lifetime dog and that’s really all I can say.”

Feral Franky has drawn box five in the $150,000 to-the-winner TAB Topgun tomorrow night.

“If he slips behind the leader and is within around three lengths in the early stages, he is in it for sure. Dogs don’t run home much faster than him,” Smith said.

Join us in cheering for #TheFeral at The Meadows.

Frank Hurst with Good Odds Harada after it won the TAB Million Dollar Chase. Picture: GRNSW
Frank Hurst with Good Odds Harada after it won the TAB Million Dollar Chase. Picture: GRNSW

TAB: TOPGUN A WIDE-OPEN AFFAIR

Sennachie heads an open edition of the 2019 TAB Topgun Sprint at $3.50 with TAB Chief Media Officer Trent Langskaill saying he expected the money to continue for the son of Fernando Bale.

“The Topgun this year is a race where if you find the winner the value will take care of itself,” Langskaill said.

“Most years Sennachie would be shorter than $3.50 based on his tremendous form, but he is a backable price due to the open nature of the race.”

Black Opium has eased from $4.20 out to $4.40 despite drawing the prized box 1.

The early money at longer odds has been for Whiskey Riot who has been backed from $21 into $16 after coming up with box 8.

It is a different story in the TAB Topgun Stayers with popular chaser Tornado Tears heavily backed since drawing box 2.

“Tornado Tears always catches the eye of punters and has been backed from $2.60 into $2.30 and now is a clear favourite at that quote.”

Bago Bye Bye is a $3.70 second elect having eased from $2.60 with Boom Down the only other runner we have in single figures at $3.70.

“Not only is Tornado Tears the best backed runner in the Topgun Stayers, but the best backed runner on the program.”

Those punters wanting to multi up the two favourites can secure $8.05.

- Nick Quinn

THE FIELD – Group 1 $214,500 Topgun Final (525m)

Race 8 – 9.33pm, The Meadows

1. BLACK OPIUM (Jason Thompson)

37 starts: 19-7-0

Prizemoney: $423,353

Trainer says: “Box 1 is not her ideal draw because she needs a bit of room. She has won a heat of the Australian Cup from box 1 and went5.05sec early. She has the ability to win any race she goes in.”

TAB ODDS: $4.40

2. GET IT GIZMO (Harry Manolitsis)

19: 8-4-5

Prizemoney: $92,350

Trainer says: “Wherever he races or trials he goes fast. I am very happy with box 2. In Group 1s, especially at The Meadows, you need to be close to fence. I want to see him charging to the front in the early stages.”

TAB ODDS: $7

3. SENNACHIE (Steven Bruce White)

27: 15-5-3

Prizemoney: $520,500

Trainer says: “I am really happy with the box draw. He trialled at The Meadows recently and went super so all he will need to do is jumplike he usually does. He should also receive a bit of room with Barooga Brett on his outside.”

TAB ODDS: $3.50

4. BAROOGA BRETT (James Ennis)

72: 24-16-8

Prizemoney: $398,880

Trainer says: “He has pulled up well from his Silver Bullet win on Monday. The box isn’t too bad, there is no direct speed on his outsideand he should get some room from Sennechie who looks for the fence early.”

TAB ODDS: $21

5. FERAL FRANKY (Raymond Smith)

36: 21-8-3

Prizemoney: $367,660

Trainer says: “Melbourne hasn’t seen the best of Feral Franky yet. He just needs to slip behind the leader and be within three lengths down the back straight because they don’t get home much faster than him.”

TAB ODDS: $8

6. GOOD ODDS HARADA (Frank Hurst)

43: 20-12-7

Prizemoney: $1,144,035

Trainer says: “He should get a little bit of room early because Feral Franky is ordinary out and Shima Shine couldn’t cross him at WentworthPark. We are looking for luck like everyone else.”

TAB ODDS: $4.60

7. SHIMA SHINE (Andrea Dailly)

13: 10-1-1

Prizemoney: $145,225

Trainer says: “He trialled well in the early stages of his career at The Meadows, so he knows the track. He has tremendousacceleration and just needs to be left alone in the early stages because he can really run.”

TAB ODDS: $5.50

8. WHISKEY RIOT (Anthony Azzopardi)

31: 15-8-1

Prizemoney: $151,185

Trainer says: “The box draw has given him no favours, but he does love The Meadows. If Shima Shine jumps like he did last start WhiskeyRiot should get a nice fly into the race being on his outside.”

TAB ODDS: $16

RESERVES

9. SLINGSHOT HAMMER (Robert Camilleri)

67: 27-9-6

Prizemoney: $163,475

TAB ODDS: $26

10. CURT LEE (Glenn Rounds)

28: 17-3-1

Prizemoney: $99,580

TAB ODDS: $16

CAN ‘BABY’ SHIMA BRING THE SHINE?

Exciting prospect Shima Shine heads into tomorrow night’s TAB Topgun as the baby of the Group 1 invitational field, one day shy of his second birthday.

Trained by Andrea Dailly, Shima Shine has already set the greyhound world alight winning 10 of his 13 career starts which also includes breaking Ballarat’s 450 metre track record at just his seventh start.

“There is no doubt Shima Shine has a lot of ability, he is a young dog who will now find himself up against the good dogs wherever he steps out,” trainer Andrea Dailly said.

And good dogs are what he finds himself up against tomorrow night with eight of the fastest greyhounds over the 500-metre trip going head-to-head for more than $200,000 in prize money.

Shima Shine has drawn box seven with TAB marking him a $5.50 chance.

“Shima Shine has tremendous acceleration so I don’t think being drawn out wide in box seven is going to make too much difference,” Dailly said.

As part of his preparation for tomorrow’s TAB Topgun at The Meadows, Shima Shine set the track alight with a 29.20 sec performance during his first look at Sandown Park last week, thus firming as a dog to watch heading into the TAB Melbourne Cup series, which culminates with the $630,000 final at Sandown Park on 29 November.

His first split of 4.96 sec early, put him just a length outside 2015 Topgun winner Fernando Bale’s 4.90 sec first sectional track record at Sandown.

Shima Shine isn’t the only greyhound to bring youth to the TAB Topgun field. Get It Gizmo is 27 months old and has had 19 starts for eight wins, which includes a third placing in NSW’s Million Dollar Chase last month.

Sennachie, from box three is the $3.50 TAB favourite to take out his second Group 1 at The Meadows after claiming the Maturity Classic earlier in the year.

Feral Franky bolts to the finish line.
Feral Franky bolts to the finish line.

‘BRETTY’ SEEKING MORE GROUP 1 GLORY

Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, Lara training duo Jamie and Brooke Ennis are quietly going about preparing their kennel star Barooga Brett for a crack at his third Group 1 victory at The Meadows in tomorrow night’s TAB Topgun.

Tomorrow morning his routine will vary only slightly from the norm, but it will be enough to let him know it’s game day.

He will be hoping he’s the team’s only runner, preferring to sprawl himself across the back seat – usually upside down.

“You know something is wrong if he isn’t lying on his back with his legs in the air,” said trainer Jamie Ennis.

Outstanding sprinting performances have already seen kennel-favourite ‘Bretty’ claim the Silver Chief, Temlee and Silver Bullet as recently as Monday night at the track, with Team Ennis keen to add the twinkle of the Group 1 TAB Topgun trophy to their mantle.

“He pulled up really well from his Silver Bullet win on Monday,” trainer Jamie Ennis said.

“We’ve never even had a starter in the Topgun before, so we are both really excited to be a part of it. He races well on the track, and we know he’ll do his best.”

Born in June 2016, Barooga Brett is the old timer of the field, having had 72 starts for 24 wins and 24 minor placings. He has a year of experience and 50 plus starts on his youngest rivals Shima Shine and Get It Gizmo.

Barooga Brett may not have youth on his side but he’s a proven Group 1 performer at The Meadows and Ennis believes that from box four he is a good place chance at the very least.

“I don’t think the draw is a bad one,” Ennis said.

“There is no direct speed on his outside and Sennachie (box three) likes to head towards the fence.”

Black Opium for trainer Jason Thompson is Ennis’ pick as the dog to beat.

“If she comes out cleanly, I just don’t think anything can beat her.”

Black Opium is yet to win a Group 1, but has finished runner up in three of the country’s biggest races; the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, Group 1 Australian Cup and Group 1 Brisbane Cup, with the latter won by tomorrow’s $3.50 Topgun favourite Sennachie.

– Jess Tubbs

FORM + TIPS – James van de maat

Hand-picked, invitation only. The Topguns are the best of the best.

The 525m Topgun sprint looks a race that speed maps with only a few genuine regular front runners.

Shima Shine, who’ll celebrate his 2nd birthday on Sunday, looks to be the real deal and I think he is the one to beat in this field.

After winning a regional final of the Million Dollar Chase, the son of Barcia Bale went on to win a semi-final at Wentworth Park before finishing a heroic second in the Grand Final behind Good Odds Harada.

Black Opium is the key to the race in box number one. Lately she’s been keen to push away from the rail and because of this I’m expecting crowding near the inside as the rest of the field pushes across.

If the race unfolds this way, keep an eye out for the likes of Shima Shine and Whiskey Riot, who should gain an unimpeded run out wide with Sennachie punching through near the inside.

Either way it’s going to a sensational Topgun with action a plenty!

By the way we can’t forget the Topgun Stayers, in which champion Tornado Tears has drawn on the inside and has earnt my selection.

JAMES’S SELECTIONS:

TOPGUN (RACE 8)

7-3-8-5

TOPGUN STAYERS (RACE 6)

2-4-6-5

The Topgun at The Meadows is one of the sport’s marquee nights. Picture: Jay Town
The Topgun at The Meadows is one of the sport’s marquee nights. Picture: Jay Town

FAST FACTS

– The first Topgun was held at Sandown Park in 1993, producing a dead-heat between Worth Backing and Golden Currency, the latterbeing trained by Jonathan Brown’s uncle, Kevin Mugavin Jnr.

– Only three females have won the Topgun – Mint Magic (1999), Cindeen Shelby (2009) and Up Hill Jill (2017). Black Opium achance to join them in 2019.

– The longest priced Topgun winner was David Bale ($31.60) in 2012.

– The fastest ever Topgun winner at The Meadows was Fernando Bale (29.59sec) over the 525-metre trip.

– Good Odds Harada is the latest of the ‘Millionaire’s Club’ courtesy of his Million Dollar Chase victory.

– Last year’s winner, Poke The Bear, won from box six and jumped second favourite.

TAB TOPGUN for STAYERS

CAN RUSSELL GO BACK-TO-BACK?

Trainer Darren Russell is hoping to take the TAB Topgun Stayers title back to Queensland for the second year running with his greyhound Bago Bye Bye after Champagne Sally claimed honours last year.

Spending the past four and a half months on the sidelines may seem like a less than ideal lead in for Bago Bye Bye, but it isn’t worrying Russell, who insists his greyhound’s preparation for the $108,000 TAB Topgun Stayers (725m) – a race elevated to Group 1 status this year – is close to ideal.

Bago Bye Bye had a chip in his hock removed following a third placing to Tornado Tears in the Group 3 Super Stayers at Albion Park in June, which was his most recent race start.

“He was on the walker 10 days after surgery, so he didn’t miss a lot of work,” trainer Darren Russell said.

Bago Bye Bye has drawn box four in tomorrow night’s TAB Topgun Stayers which has seen his TAB odds slightly drift from $2.80 pre-box draw equal favourite to $3.50, with money going towards champion greyhound Tornado Tears.

“He is in the race,” Russell said.

“Bago Bye Bye is trialling fast and he is fit, but the only question mark will be his last 50 metres.”

In preparation for his return to the track Bago Bye Bye went within a length of the 600 metre Albion Park track record.

“Bago Bye Bye won’t need a look at The Meadows because he has already been around the track a couple of times during the Australian Cup Carnival – plus, he doesn’t like the cold weather, so we are best staying in Queensland for as long as possible.”

It’s been three starts since four-time Group 1 winner Tornado Tears has been in the winner’s circle after being defeated in a 680 metre feature at Geelong on October 25, as well as a fourth placing in the Group 3 Sydney Cup heats and fifth in the Group 3 Top Cat Video Cup at The Meadows.

Tornado Tears may not have the recent form on the board, but as TAB punters have proven you can never discredit a champion, backing him into $2.50 favouritism after drawing ideally in box two.

2019 TAB TOPGUN STAYERS (725m)

The Meadows – Race 6 8.42pm

1 SHE WILL BLOOM, Brendan Pursell (VIC) $14

2 TORNADO TEARS, Robert Britton (VIC) $2.50

3 BLUE SHADOWS, Angela Langton (VIC) $14

4 BAGO BYE BYE, Darren Russell (QLD) $3.50

5 RAJASTHAN, Robert Camilleri (VIC) $14

6 BOOM DOWN, Steven White (VIC) $6

7 BLUE MOON RISING, John Finn (NSW) $6

8 RADAR GUNN, Jeff Crawford (QLD) $21

Reserves

9 JUST TERMS, Anthony Azzopardi (VIC) $10

10 ANNIE LAVA, Brendan Pursell (VIC) $51

Good Odds Harada will wear the green No.6 tomorrow night.
Good Odds Harada will wear the green No.6 tomorrow night.

TOPGUN NIGHT: WHEN AND WHERE

WHERE:

The Meadows, 80 Northcorp Boulevard, Broadmeadows

ADMISSION: Free

KEY TIMES:

Gates open – 6pm

First race – 6:43pm

Group 1 TAB Topgun Stayers – Race 6 8.42pm

Group 1 TAB Topgun – Race 8 9.33pm

GIVEAWAYS & PRIZES:

– $500 TAB Voucher to be won (Over 18s only)

– Free showbag for first 300 kids

– Kids prizes including bikes, electronics & games

ENTERTAINMENT:

– 12 exciting races

– Kids should dress for action with heaps of entertainment including rock climbing, obstacle courses, gladiator challenge & more.

– Live Music

OTHER:

– Free parking

– $5 kids meals

– Walk-up dining available from the Snack Bar

– Happy Hour from 6pm-7pm

GREYHOUND RACING GOES FREE-TO-AIR

■ A new television series on 7mate is taking viewers inside the sport of Australian greyhound racing.

Thrill Of The Chase airs on Sunday mornings at 10am. Join host Jack Heverin, James Van de Maat, Liz Wheelan and Molly Haines as they showcase greyhound racing like you have never seen it before.TOPGUN NIGHT

Originally published as Ultimate guide to the Group 1, $215,500 Topgun at The Meadows

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/ultimate-guide-to-the-group-1-215500-topgun-at-the-meadows/news-story/5f21d4d78009d15377af929c68870e75