Runs Alright crosses the line in front of Kinga Cool and Blue Gunner in race two at Cranbourne on Monday. 24431 Picture: Luke Plummer.By Helena Adeloju
The Great Chase is on with locally trained greyhounds winning three of four heats run at Cranbourne on Monday, to qualify for Greyhound Racing Victoria’s (GRV) Great Chase semi-finals.
Devon Meadows’ Four Walls, Pearcedale’s Buddy Special and Cranbourne North’s Serbo Delight will take to the track next Tuesday in a bid to make the GRV’s Great Chase finals’ line-up.
With 48 greyhounds vying for finals positions it will be a case of winners take all in the semi-finals next week, with only eight spots up for grabs.
The Great Chase series, which is in its sixth year, has seen more than 300 greyhounds compete in heats at 12 different venues across Victoria over the past three weeks.
With the $25,000 winner-takes-all Group 2 crown the ultimate prize, the three-strong local contingent is in with a good chance of taking out the title, after impressive performances at Cranbourne.
More than 100 carers and clients of local community groups joined punters trackside at Cranbourne’s twilight meet, as part of the Great Chase 2008, which also doubles as a fundraising initiative for community organisations.
The GRV initiative, which pairs community organisations with local greyhounds entered in Great Chase events during November, saw four community groups go home $500 better off after their greyhound blitzed the field in the qualifying heats.
Cranbourne Greyhound Racing Club chief executive Tony Wright said the Great Chase initiative was aimed at helping community groups for adults with disabilities to raise much-needed funds.
With luck on their side next Tuesday, all four community groups will be in the running to pocket another $1000 if their dog comes home a winner to qualify for the final at The Meadows on 26 November.
With nothing to lose, and $5000 – plus a 10 per cent stake in their dog’s winnings for a year for the taking in the final – four local community groups will be hoping their dog can come up with the goods to qualify.
Mr Wright said the Cranbourne Great Chase meet continues to grow.
“It was a really good night overall, and we’ll do it all again at Cranbourne next Tuesday when we host one of the four semi-finals being held across Victoria.”
