Gary Peach only has six greyhounds in work, but remarkably three of his proudly homegrown team loom as key players in Thursday night’s Group 2 Sportsbet Warrnambool Cup heats (450m).
Peach’s Cup-bound trio are prolific littermates Action Girl (heat 2, box 3) and Silver Brute (heat 6, box 7) and closely-related rising star Mr. Beets (heat 5, box 6).
Silver Brute and Mr. Beets are favourites for their heats with Sportsbet at $3.10 and $3.70 respectively, while Action Girl is the $3 second elect in her run-off.
They’re also prominent in ‘All In’ betting.
Action Girl is one of only three contenders at single figures at $9.50, behind only $4 series favourite Kelsey Bale and heat rival Unleash Collinda $8, while Silver Brute is $10 and Mr. Beets is $18.
“They’re three good chances,” Peach said.
“It’s half my team and they’re all from the same line. It’s not as if I’m training for anyone else.
“I’d like to see them all drawn near the inside, but Action Girl looks the best boxed. I’d say she’s my best chance, because of the draw.
“It all depends on the first 50 metres. Action Girl normally pings out, while Mr. Deeds and Silver Brute need a stride.”
WATCH: Warrnambool Cup contender MR. BEETS (B4) led all-the-way to win the Aston Derby Final at Warrnambool on January 19, holding INCINERATION (B7) at bay in a fast 25.03sec.
Peach’s triumvirate boast sensational strike rates; Action Girl has won 34 of her 51 starts (67%), Silver Brute is 35 from 57 (61%), and the more lightly-raced Mr. Beets has won 13 from 17 at an amazing 76%.
They also have imposing records at ‘The Bool’.
Mr. Beets has won three from four over 450m, highlighted by the Derby Final in January, while he’s also won four of six over 390m.
Action Girl, a finalist in last year’s G2 Healesville Cup, is unbeaten in two appearances over 450m and she’s four from five over 390m, and while Silver Brute has only won one of his six 450m assignments, he’s won five from seven over 390m.
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“Silver Brute ran in last year’s Warrnambool Cup heats and got run down by Mepunga Mustang, but he’s a stronger dog now,” Peach said.
“Mr. Beets is as quick as the other two and he’s stronger. He’s only just over two and he’s got a bright future ahead of him.
“Warrnambool used to be my home track until 1990, but Ballarat is now. I was sorry I missed the Ballarat Cup but they were a couple of weeks away from being ready for 450m and Warrnambool was the next option.”
Action Girl and Silver Brute are siblings by Aston Dee Bee out of Weeping Lass, with their phenomenal litter also including Mobile Legend, winner of the Traralgon and Warragul Cups earlier this year.
Weeping Lass also produced 2019 Warrnambool Cup placegetter Crimson Vixen, and she’s Mr. Beets’ granddam.
The headline act in the seven Cup heats is undoubtedly Victoria’s new ‘Cups Queen’, Kelsey Bale, which is chasing her third straight country cup title after stunning – if totally different – successes at Ballarat and Geelong.
Kelsey Bale, trained by the high-flying Daniel Gibbons, has drawn box one in the ‘white hot’ opening heat.
Her rivals include comeback kid Typhoon Sammy (box 7), which made a victorious return from retirement at Geelong last Friday, and Salad Dodger (box 4), already a Traralgon, Shepparton and Ballarat Cup finalist this year.
2022 Cup winner Ferdinand Boy will set out to defend his crown when he exits box two in the second heat, his 103th start.
