WESTERN Victoria really is the place to be for greyhound racing at this time of year. At a time when the state is gripping with the annual mid-winter freeze, the four tracks west of the capital continue to give punters and spectators something to be excited about.

Horsham was home to a maximum temperature of just 13.9 degrees Celsius, but those on site at the state’s most isolated track did not have to wait long for quality racing to take place. Aaron Debattista’s Optimus Bart kicked off the first with a bang – taking out the 16 Plus Fashions Handicap in a flying 32.49sec. To add to the brilliance, he managed to salute as the only greyhound under the handicapped conditions – using flying early speed to hold off Thelma’s Man and Miss Shirleen heading into the home straight (Replay).

Over the shorter course of the 410 metres, Elbow Room showed impressive turn of foot to honour his name in creating space heading into the final turn. This came after Knocka’s Choir broke out to what looked like an unassailable lead heading into the middle of the race, before Elbow Room shot through the inside alley to score. To top it off for the Bibby camp, his run was unbeaten as the best of the night over the 410 metres.

Zipping Anna was the fastest of the evening over the signature 480 metres, holding off the storming challenge of half brothers and joint favourites Mepunga Treasure and Mepunga Rosie in 27.29sec (Replay).
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Horsham Tuesday Results & Replays: Click Here
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BALLARAT has been infamously known as the coldest city in the state, but the action on the track couldn’t have been any different.

The feature heats of the evening – GRV Vic Bred – took place over the 450 metres, and were run and won with some impressive victories taking place. The fastest was claimed by Pearcedale trainer Jason Thompson, with Light ‘Em Up scoring in a very fast 25.21sec on a wet surface. Only fair to begin out of the boxes, he shot through the early pack to lead all the way – showing off his impressive power (Replay).

Kerry Minne’s Who Dey held off a challenge from Asa Unbreakable to score in the fastest of the evening over the 545 metres – a flying 31.16sec.

“Bills Back’s flying box speed shot him to the lead early on, and he was uncatchable heading to the line scoring in the signature time of 22.12sec. This was his 23rd win from just 39 starts.”

Talented chaser Bills Back marked his return to Ballarat with a commanding victory over the 390 metres, scoring in a signature time of 22.12sec. His flying box speed shot him to the lead early on, and he was uncatchable heading to the line (Replay).
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Ballarat Wednesday Results & Replays: Click Here
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WARRNAMBOOL was home to a series of fiery heats, with the Norfolk Butchers Dual Distance Semi Finals and the GRV To The City heats taking place over the 450 and 650 metres.

Horsham Cup finalist Shared Bonus, picured above with trainer Angela Langton, put in a flying effort over the 390 metres, scoring in a near track record time of 21.85sec – a feat on the back of his equally impressive 25.22sec triumph over the 450 metres last week. Repaying the faith punters put in him ($1.30), Shared Bonus put in a workmanlike effort – battling to lead the field into the first turn. From there, he was never going to lose, leading all the way to score (Replay).

The following dual distance heat was taken out by local trainer Joy McDowell, with the talented Lynlea Jiddy scoring in a solid 22.29sec – pulling one back on second placegetter Unbound, who saluted over the top of Lynlea Jiddy last week.

Sweet Barbados added to his promising potential, saluting in the first of the GRV To The City heats in a decent 25.42sec. This comes after he managed to place or win in his last six starts – adding to his $14350 in prizemoney to date. On top of this, he was the fastest of the evening over the 450 metres – with local greyhound Kirabilli Rosie coming in second, with a run of 25.56sec in the other GRV To The City heat.

The distance leg of the to GRV To The City was run and won by the ever consistent Sir Bekim, who was on the harsh end of a heavy check heading into the first turn. Impressively, Sir Bekim displayed brilliant determination on the back straight, running down Cairnlea Flash to score in 37.80sec over the 650 metres.

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Warrnambool Thursday Results & Replays: Click Here
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SEMI-metropolitan racing at Geelong was headed by a $4360 KROCK (1-4 Wins) Final over the 520 metres on Friday night.

The final, taken out by Graeme Jose’s No Diggity came as odds on favourite Chancy Be Smooth ran into fourth place from box one. No Diggity, who showed fantastic early pace to surge to the front, was unable to be caught – and skipped away to win by around three lengths from outsider Quaint Bale and Cousin Cosmo in 30.23sec.

Surprisingly, this wasn’t the fastest of the evening over the 520 metres – with Angela Langton’s Sonic Dash scoring in a blistering 30.06sec from the outside box (Replay).

Brooke Ennis continued her rich run of form in recent months when Spring Missile took out the quickest 400 metre contest of the evening in 22.50sec. Still reaping the rewards of Margins surprise triumph in the Horsham Cup earlier this month, Spring Missile overcame early crowding to shoot through and salute in an impressive victory.

The title of fastest 460 metre victor of the evening was bestowed upon Mendes, who triumphed in a flying 25.80sec in the eighth of the evening. Equally as impressively, Robert Harrowfield’s Nook And Cranny scored as the rank outsider of the evening – winning in 26.13sec over the 460 metres. He overcame a late surge from Go Go Treatment to hold on by a head (Replay).
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Geelong Friday Results & Replays: Click Here
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That was racing in western Victoria last week – I’ll see you back here from London next week for another Western Wrap.
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Watch: Bills Back (4) shows bullet-like speed to win at Ballarat last week in 22.12sec.