Can Mortified Shake NSW's Australian Cup Hoodoo?

CONSPIRING against brilliant south coast sprinter Mortified and Australian Cup glory is a hoodoo spanning precisely two decades.

Not since 2003 has a NSW greyhound tasted success in the Group 1 showpiece and even on that occasion it was only by half, with Most Awesome sharing the silverware with Victorian Blackjack Tom.

But at The Meadows on Saturday night, Mortified will step out looking to end the agonising drought and in the process land trainer Chris O'Brien his first coveted Group 1 title as a trainer.

FIELDS AND FORM THE MEADOWS SATURDAY NIGHT

"I really think she's in with a big show but win, lose or draw I'm just thrilled to be there," O'Brien said.

"If we were lucky enough to win it would be great to be the one to break the drought and bring the trophy home.

"It's not easy leaving your home turf so if we won it'd make it that extra special."

Mortified roared into Saturday night's $300,000-to-the-winner Australian Cup decider with an all-the-way 29.76 box eight heat victory last weekend.

It was the merit of that performance which saw bookmakers quickly install the daughter of Fernando Bale as a $3.60 favourite for the blockbuster finale.

"She has to begin," O'Brien said. "But what we've got in our favour is that she's taken a real liking to The Meadows. Her trial there was very good and she went great winning her heat.

"I think she can make the box draw work provided she steps cleanly.

"The week has gone perfect and she's in great order so it's full steam ahead."

Adding further merit to a potential Australian Cup triumph is that Mortified is from a line O'Brien has been largely responsible for fostering since 2006.

Mortified's dam Banjo Tifia runs back through grand producers Tifia and Tifi with the tentacles of that line hugely prevalent throughout the Australian breeding landscape, including via the deeds of Feral Franky and Good Odds Harada, to name a select few.

She had to overcome the travel from NSW and the wide draw but Mortified does it in style for Chris O'Brien ?

The final is set to be a cracker next week! pic.twitter.com/ALokSq60T6

— Melbourne Greyhounds – The Meadows (@MelbourneGreys) February 18, 2023

"It's been a great ride. A few mistakes along the way but more right than wrong," O'Brien said.

"The line is remarkable when you see what it has produced and a lot of it people wouldn't even know with the offshoots here and there."

Embedded away in Mortified's family tree is Hall of Famer Paua To Burn which swept all before her in a Group 1 winning onslaught in the early 2000s.

At that time her trainer Steve White called Nowra Hill home, just as O'Brien does now.

"It would be great to bring another Group 1 back home to the area," O'Brien said.

"We've got the job ahead but I'm confident she's up to it."

*********************

Group 1 Australian Cup Final (525m)

The Meadows, Saturday night

1. Captain Larry $7.50

2. Mortified $3.60

3. Indy Fido $26.00

4. Landyn Bale $3.60

5. Lovaz Bale $81.00

6. Fernando Mick $5.00

7. Victa Damian $5.50

8. Baby Jaycee $7.50

9. Titan Blazer $14.00

10. Kelsey Bale $5.50