Chappelow Embracing Steep Cup Challenge

WITH a drama-charged heat victory in the rearview mirror, group 1 heroine Embrace takes a decided class advantage into Sunday's $25,000-to-the-winner Ladbrokes Muswellbrook Cup Final (571m).

While on paper the record books show the 16-time winner landed her qualifier in comfortable fashion, the star daughter of Turanza Bale did catch the attention of stewards, abruptly losing her way into the turn into the home straight to send punters' hearts racing.

FIELDS AND FORM MUSWELLBROOK SUNDAY

After speaking to trainer Craig Chappelow, and taking into consideration it was the 72 start veterans first look at Muswellbrook and a grass surface, stewards elected to take no further action, determining the group 1 starlet shied at an irrigation pump in the foreign surrounds.

And now with that all important experience under her belt, Embrace heads into Sunday's finale as the one to beat from box five, the same draw she negotiated in her heat success in 32.97s.

"There was a little bit of a concern," Chappelow explained. 

Embrace wins @Ladbrokescomau Muswellbrook Cup Heat 2 in 32.97 from Delphie Belle and Special Isle!#thedogs #greyhoundracing #greyhounds #muswellbrookcup @muswellbrooknsw pic.twitter.com/vMAguuvp4n

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) January 28, 2024

"Just on the point of the home turn I believe she eased at a shadow on the track or some obstruction on the inside of the running rail and regained her composure and managed to finish off the race and won.

"That's when we were questioned after the race as to whether she needed to go to the vet and then also to the stewards. I think commonsense has prevailed. She was given the benefit of the doubt. The stewards believe that's what caused the problem, the shadow or the obstruction inside, and they were happy to let her go around in the final. 

"So we can now breathe a sigh of relief."

While prolific group finalist Embrace looms large for the decider, trainer Mark Gatt's two-pronged attack of Ritza Debra and Leg Speed are there to keep her honest.

Having their first looks at the circuit in the heats also, Ritza Debra scored in 32.79s while the hugely talented Leg Speed raced away for a track record breaking 32.62s run.

But the box draw hasn't been kind to Gatt's Cup pairing with Ritza Debra drawing six with Leg Speed to her direct outside in seven.

Sunday's Muswellbrook Cup card was to be staged in the twilight timeslot but has been shifted to the morning given the extreme temperatures forecast for the region.