Stellar Field Selected For Group 1 Topgun

THE field to contest Saturday week's Group 1 Sky Racing Topgun (525m) at The Meadows has been decided.

The $150,000 to-the-winner invitational, widely dubbed the Cox Plate of greyhound racing, has brought together a star-studded field boasting representatives from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland.

New South Wales isn't represented in the flagship group 1 with Peter Lagogiane, trainer of TAB Million Dollar Chase winner Handsome Prince, declining an invitation to contest the race, instead focusing on a tilt at the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park.

The stellar field of eight is led by four-time group 1 Simon Told Helen which goes into the race off a rampaging Geelong Cup victory last Friday night for trainer David Burnett.

Already a two-time group 1 winner at The Meadows with wins in the Silver Chief and Maturity Classic, Simon Told Helen currently heads Topgun markets ahead of the all important box draw which will be determined at next Monday's Group 1 Hume Cup meeting.

Also representing the home state is exceptional talents Catch The Thief, Christo Bale, Tiggerlong Tonk and Shima Shine, the latter still eyeing a breakthrough group race victory.

Trained by Andrea Dailly, Shima Shine returns for a second crack at Topgun glory after being the unlucky runner in last year's edition behind winner Get It Gizmo.

Set to join the Victorian runners in the Topgun is WA star Tommy Shelby, in the hands of Kel Greenough for his Victorian campaign, along with National Derby hero Oh Mickey and SA star Golden Night, the Troy Murray-trained charge booking his place with a gripping Adelaide Cup win earlier this month.

Final field for the Group 1 Topgun (The Meadows, November 7)

Golden Night
Simon Told Helen
Catch The Thief
Christo Bale
Tiggerlong Tonk
Tommy Shelby
Oh Mickey
Shima Shine

Reserves:
Hard Style Rico
Weblec Ace

The final field has also been announced for the Group 1 Topgun Stayers (725m) comprising some of Australia's brightest stayers.

Included in the line-up is star half-brothers Tornado Tears and Here's Tears, Sunset Bourbski and True Detective.

Just Terms also returns to The Meadows, the Group 1 Zoom Top winner second in the race last year behind winner Blue Moon Rising.

Final field for Group 1 Topgun Stayers (The Meadows, November 7)

Here's Tears
Sir Truculant
Sunset Bourbski
Tornado Tears
True Detective
Classy Ethics
Just Terms
Blazing Cartier

Reserves:
Rockstar Beav
Keefe