Eight Ball set the track alight on Wednesday night at Cranbourne in a heat of the Trio’s Winter Cup.

Recording the fastest time of the night over 520 metre distance, the son of Kayda Shae and Taste Da Rainbow stopped the clock in a time of 30.35sec, half a length faster than next heat winner, Weston Envoy.

16 starts into his career, trainer Philip Smith has noticed a pattern in his exciting young pup.

“He is unbeaten from box one in his two starts,” Smith said.

Eight Ball’s first start from the cherry was a near best of the night 29.78sec win at The Meadows.

WATCH: Eight Ball win his heat of the Trio’s Winter Cup from box one. 

“He is a very strong dog and all he needs in races is a little bit of room,” Smith said.

The longer run into the first corner at Cranbourne was just one reason Smith targeted the $20,000 to-the-winner Trio’s Winter Cup.

“You need a strong dog to run the 520 at Cranbourne and going off the heat performances all of the greyhounds in the final are very competitive.”

Eight Ball has drawn box two in the Trio’s Winter Cup which will be run on Saturday 29 June at Cranbourne.

“He is well boxed because he likes being drawn close to fence,” Smith said.

“I expect to see improvement in the final because he hadn’t raced at Cranbourne before.”

“His second look at Sandown he improved three to four lengths, so it would be good to see him do something similar in the final.”

Box draw for the Trio’s Winter Cup
Saturday 29 June
1) Western Envoy           Angela Langton
2) Eight Ball                    Philip Smith
3) Roger Express           Joshua Moody
4) Start A Riot                 Keith Hellmuth
5) Get It Gizmo               Harry Manolitsis
6) Max Tractor               Jeff Geall
7) Space Tracking         Steven Van Oirschot
8) Black Signature         Angela Langton
Reserves
9) Callum’s Son             Craig Treherne
10) Kadalex Kid             Jason Nibbs

Saturday June 29 at Cranbourne is Vegas night and along with cocktails, casino games, and an Elvis feature act, there is a big night of feature racing including;

• Cranbourne Track Star (311m Special Event)
• The Backman’s (520m VICGreys Special Event)
• Maiden Final (311m VICGreys, already drawn)

For more details on these events click HERE

*Photo credits; Jason Mckeown Photography