Electrifying youngster and recent Speed Star winner Hooked On Scotch has booked himself a ticket into the Adelaide Cup final after taking out the $10,000 State-of-Origin event at Angle Park last night.
Race 3 at Angle Park was split into four two-dog match races yesterday, each featuring a Victorian and a South Australian representative.
After dual Group 1 winner Sennachie (Steve White) had set the time standard at 29.21sec over the 515m trip, the overall favourite Hooked On Scotch (Jason Thompson) overcame a bumping duel with his opponent Fly For Fun before clocking 29.19sec.
As part of a new cross promotion between GRV and Greyhound Racing SA, the fastest greyhound across the four matches was guaranteed a place in the $75,000 to-the-winner Group 1 Adelaide Cup final on October 11, bypassing the heats.
And in a further reward, Hooked On Scotch has also gained entry into the $25,000 to-the-winner four-dog Shootout (515m) at Sandown Park on 14 November.
Hooked On Scotch (Barcia Bale – Nicki Fields), a 21-month-old half brother to recently retired champion Poke The Bear, has had just nine starts (five wins).
Incidentally, Victorian greyhounds defeated their SA counterparts in all four matches.