Tommy Shelby Tops Betting For Australian Cup

THE all-important box draw for Saturday night's $429,000 Group 1 Australian Cup was broadcast live on 7Two's Thrill of the Chase this morning, with connections of the eight contenders on track at The Meadows for the occasion.

Interestingly, the three most accomplished group performers in the final – Tommy Shelby, Tiggerlong Tonk and Christo Bale – all draw awkwardly in boxes 4, 7 & 8 respectively, throwing the race wide open.

Moments following the box draw TAB's Trent Langskaill announced Tommy Shelby and Fernando Bluey as the equal favourites at $2.80, followed by Tiggerlong Tonk at $5.50, then Lakeview Cruiser and Shima Classic at $8.50 apiece.

In other highlights on today's episode of ‘Thrill of the Chase', Melbourne Storm champion Ryan Papenhuyzen was in the studio discussing his passion for greyhound racing, while there was also a feature story on popular Gippsland participant Matt Height.

$429,000 G1 TAB AUSTRALIAN CUP
Saturday 27 February – 525m
$300,000 (1^st); $86,000 (2^nd); $43,000 (3^rd)

1 UTAH BLUES (Tim Britton, Lara VIC)
2 LAKEVIEW CRUISER (Harley Whelan, Metung VIC)
3 SHIMA CLASSIC (Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC)
4 TOMMY SHELBY (Steven Withers, Casuarina WA)
5 TYLER DURDEN (Jeffrey Britton, Anakie VIC)
6 FERNANDO BLUEY (Kayla Cottrell, Pearcedale VIC)
7 TIGGERLONG TONK (Correy Grenfell, Anakie VIC)
8 CHRISTO BALE (Mark Delbridge, Balliang VIC)

Reserves
9 MEPUNGA FELIX (Jeffrey Britton, Anakie VIC)
10 WOW (Karina Britton, Ambarvale NSW)

HEAT WINNERS 

29.51 TOMMY SHELBY (Steven Withers, Casuarina WA)
29.66 TYLER DURDEN (Jeffrey Britton, Anakie VIC)
29.74 TIGGERLONG TONK (Correy Grenfell, Anakie VIC)
29.74 LAKEVIEW CRUISER (Harley Whelan, Metung VIC)
29.75 CHRISTO BALE (Mark Delbridge, Balliang VIC)
29.76 SHIMA CLASSIC (Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC)
29.77 FERNANDO BLUEY (Kayla Cottrell, Pearcedale VIC)
30.05 UTAH BLUES (Tim Britton, Lara VIC)
Reserves
9 MEPUNGA FELIX (Jeffrey Britton, Anakie VIC)
10 WOW (Karina Britton, Ambarvale NSW)