A snapshot of the four main events that make up the 2023 Sportsbet Dream Chasers Festival

The wait is almost over.

Dreams will most assuredly come true over five sensational nights of the second Sportsbet Dream Chasers Festival, with more than $4.1 million prizemoney on offer, commencing on Saturday, November 11, at The Meadows with the Group 1 Sportsbet Topgun.

The world’s richest greyhound racing carnival then heads to Sandown for the G3 Shootout, followed by the G1 Sportsbet Melbourne Cup, before returning to The Meadows for the climactic third edition of the $1.65 million The Phoenix.

Here’s a snapshot of the four ‘majors’ constituting the 2023 Dream Chasers Festival and a look into the crystal ball to provide an insight into Sportsbet’s Futures markets.

$233,250 GROUP 1 SPORTSBET TOPGUN (525m)

Saturday 11 November (night), The Meadows

Regarded as greyhound racing’s version of the thoroughbred code’s Cox Plate, the invitation-only Topgun pits a hand-picked field of the best against the best. First run in 1993, the Topgun honour roll is littered with legendary sprinters the ilk of Rapid Journey, Bombastic Shiraz, El Grand Senor, and Fernando Bale. Topgun night also features the $121,500 G1 Topgun Stayers (725m) and $121,500 G1 Hume Cup Final (600m).

SPORTSBET’S TOPGUN
PRE-BOX DRAW MARKET
(as at 2 Nov 2023)

$2.80 ALPHA ZULU
$4.80 BIG ENERGY
$4.80 SCHILLACI
$8.00 WOW SHE’S FAST
$8.50 JAY IS JAY
$8.50 TRANSPONDER
$14.00 LAUNCH CODE
$15.00 NANGAR LUCY (2R)
$19.00 ELITE MACHINE
$21.00 SAIGE TENNIELE (1R)

Click HERE for the latest market

Gerard says: With nominal favourite Postman Pat to miss the Topgun, brilliant young kennelmate Alpha Zulu, currently $2.80 in Sportbet’s pre-box draw market, is ready to step up to the big time. Trained by the all-conquering Jason Thompson, Alpha Zulu has won 15 from 20, highlighted by the Bendigo and Cranbourne Cups, and is two from two at The Meadows, with a scorching 29.66sec PB. Wow She’s Fast, a surprise acceptor for the Topgun, not having raced since May 18, is $8.

Topgun favourite: Dual country cups winner Alpha Zulu.

Gerard’s early tip:
ALPHA ZULU ($2.80)

Gerard’s value selection:
WOW SHE’S FAST ($8.00)

$72,500 GROUP 3 SHOOTOUT (515m)

Saturday 18 November (night), Sandown Park

Four of the fastest ‘guns’ in greyhound racing will clash in the always intriguing Shootout, with the Million Dollar Chase winner, Queenslander Jay Is Jay, gaining automatic entry, if connections wish, as does the Topgun winner.

Gerard says: Wow She’s Fast may now be back to defend her 2022 Shootout crown; however Kel and Jackie Greenough have another excellent chance to go back-to-back in Big Energy. Big Energy has the quickest run at Sandown Park in 2023 – a near-record 28.93sec – and is seven from 13 overall at the track. The WA import has stepped up to the plate in elite company of late, running second in both the G1 Adelaide Cup and G2 Cranbourne Cup, and the half-field Shootout format will play to his strengths.

*No Shootout Futures Market available

Speed freak: Big Energy has broken the magical 29 second barrier at Sandown Park.

$1,008,000 GROUP 1 SPORTSBET MELBOURNE CUP (515m)

Saturday 2 December (night), Sandown Park

The Melbourne Cup might not be the richest race in Australia, but it remains the one most trainers covet most. It is greyhound racing’s Holy Grail. The Melbourne Cup has been won by Hall of Famers, Rookie Rebel, Highly Blessed, Kantarn Bale, Bombastic Shiraz, El Grand Senor and Dyna Double One. Melbourne Cup heat night (Saturday, November 25) is arguably the greatest night’s racing on the Australian calendar, while Cup Final night also features the G1 Bold Trease (715m), along with four other Group and Listed events.

SPORTSBET’S MELBOURNE
CUP FUTURES MARKET
(as at 2 Nov 2023)

$5.50 ALPHA ZULU
$7.00 POSTMAN PAT
$10.00 MORTON
$10.00 PASS THE BUCK
$13.00 BIG ENERGY
$13.00 FLYING ZULU
$13.00 SCHILLACI
$14.00 JAY IS JAY
$18.00 MORTIFIED
$18.00 SHIMA CURRENT
$18.00 TIM ZOO
$18.00 TRANSPONDER
$18.00 WOW SHE’S FAST
$21.00 KING OF ACES

Click HERE for the full market

Gerard says: Finding the Melbourne Cup winner is difficult enough once the final field has been determined, let alone a month out! Following the speculate to accumulate theory, young gun Schillaci’s current $13 quote is appealing and perhaps he can follow his equine namesake – the ‘Grey Flash’ – into racing folklore. Schillaci has won 10 from 15 and two from three at Sandown, most recently a BON 29.25sec on Cranbourne Cup night. Jihad Talgi’s brave call to knock back a $100,000 offer before Schillaci had raced could reap the ultimate reward.

Also a massive watch on

what master trainer Kel Greenough can do with former SA superstar Victa Damian. Currently $21, can Victa Damian be the sprinter to fulfil Greenough’s greatest desire?

SA Derby winner: Schillaci with trainer Jihad Talgi.

Gerard’s early tip:
SCHILLACI ($13.00)

Gerard’s value selection:
VICTA DAMIAN ($21.00)

$1.65 MILLION THE PHOENIX (525m)

Saturday 16 December (night), The Meadows

The Dream Chasers Festival will culminate with the third running of The Phoenix, the world’s richest greyhound race.

She couldn’t, could she? Wow She’s Fast is the only sprinter to have won the slot race, but she’s racing the clock to return for what would be an almost incomprehensible ‘three-peat’. One thing is certain, with the meticulous Kel Greenough preparing her, if Wow She’s Fast lines up in The Phoenix she’ll be there to win. If Wow She’s Fast can make it three straight, it would be a feat up there with Bold Trease’s four Sandown Cups and Makybe Diva’s three consecutive thoroughbred Melbourne Cups. The Phoenix meeting also features the G1 Silver Chief Final.

SPORTSBET’S PHOENIX
FUTURES MARKET
(as at 2 Nov 2023)

$3.30 ALPHA ZULU
$3.50 POSTMAN PAT
$6.50 MORTON
$7.50 BIG ENERGY
$8.00 PASS THE BUCK
$8.50 FLYING ZULU
$9.00 SCHILLACI
$9.00 WOW SHE’S FAST
$12.00 MORTIFIED
$14.00 VICTA DAMIAN
$16.00 MACKENNA
$16.00 SHIMA CURRENT
$16.00 TIM ZOO
$16.00 TRANSPONDER

Click HERE for the full market

Gerard says: Postman Pat was the first confirmed runner in The Phoenix, joined this week by kennelmate Alpha Zulu. While a minor injury will see the superstar Kiwi import miss the Topgun, that could well play in his favour after arduous interstate campaigning since arriving in Australia, and champion mentor Jason Thompson is sure to time his preparation to the second. Boasting a scorching Meadows PB of 29.60sec, it’s surely only a matter of time before the ‘Postman’ delivers in an Aussie major and it might just be in the richest race of all.

Back-to-back: Wow She’s Fast and trainer Jackie Greenough are adored by the Sportsbet faithful after claiming the second Phoenix in 2022. 

Gerard’s early tip:
POSTMAN PAT ($3.50)

Gerard’s value selection:
MORTON ($6.50)

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ZULU’S CRANBOURNE CUP CHANT
MORTON SENDS DREAM CHASERS MESSAGE