Epic Sprint Clash Headlines Pink Diamond Night

THE clash of champion Explicit vs Country Cups King Matt Loch headlines an action packed Pink Diamond final program at Geelong on Friday.

With three group 1 titles and over $2m in prize money to his name, Explicit has already stamped his name among the sport's modern greats as he aims for an eighth black type feature. Out to topple him in the $75,000 Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter final is Matt Loch which despite now being three and half years old, continues to prove to be one of Victoria's premier provincial chasers with eight wins in his last nine starts, including the Geelong and Warrnambool Cups in that time. 

FIELDS AND FORM GEELONG FRIDAY NIGHT

The clash is just one of 12 listed events on the card showcasing the cream of Victorian bred chasing talent. Heats for all finals have been run across provincial Victoria, culminating in a massive night that carries over $460,000 in prize money.

The first event will jump at 7pm.

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Race 1: Pink Diamond Maiden Short Course Final

COMMENT: Interestingly, no greyhound remains undefeated through the three week series showing how even this crop has been. BLAZIN' FRIES (1) recorded the fastest semi final win by some margin, and while she's solid if not brilliant at box rise, should get a clear enough run to the first turn given the bulk of the early speed has drawn out wide. ASTON FONTAINE (5) has been brilliant early in both heat and semi final but had no match for the red late in their semi final and it's hard to see him turning the tables from the draw. TRADING HALT (7) showed great acceleration in her semi final to record a big win and further improvement wouldn't surprise.

Tips: 1-7-5-8

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Race 2: Pink Diamond Maiden Sprinter Final

COMMENT: DAPPER CHAP (2) pinged the lids to lead all of the way in his semi final and held on determinedly when pressured late in very good time. TRAUMATISE (6) improved dramatically off his debut run but the draw may prove tricky. WEBLEC JOEL (3) has been solid in both his heat and semi-final win and while he may not have the speed of the two aforementioned greyhounds, he'll be close enough should either make a mistake.

Tips: 2-6-3-1

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Race 3: Pink Diamond Challenger Sprinter Final

COMMENT: Tricky race with lots of chances and to be honest, if you need a breather to grab a drink and a bite to eat, now is the time. If you have to have a bet, DEMOLISH (1) and WHO ME (7) have early speed, won their heats impressively and are drawn OK. Toss a coin, or use this time to iron out the quaddie.

Tips: 1-7-3-6

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Race 4: Pink Diamond Rookie Short Course Final

COMMENT: There's a lot to like about MASSETER (7) having won three of her last five and being close in her two defeats. Her heat win was flawless, run in good time and is capable of repeating that performance here. HAPPY AND NUMB (4) has won three in a row, and while inconsistent at box rise, could blow them away if he gets it right here. PRETTY FOLLIE (6) is never far away. 

Tips: 7-4-6-2

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Race 5: Pink Diamond Rookie Distance Final

COMMENT: COINCIDENCE (1) looks a stayer with a very bright future. At just her seventh start and first over the staying trip, she couldn't have impressed more when winning her heat and drawn the red again, will be hard to hold out. ASTON BARTON (3) ran a length slower overall but his first split was some fourth lengths slower and will need to improve early to threaten. WITHOUT A TRACE (2) has been inconsistent early but when she gets it right can run time as seen by her recent 33.82 effort over 595m at Sandown Park. 

Tips: 1-3-2-6

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Race 6: Pink Diamond Champion Short Course Final

COMMENT: A tricky race to line up. SHARAPOVA STAR (5) was brilliant in her heat at Shepparton and wasn't far away from a place in the Ballarat Cup before that. Is the early favourite but the draw is somewhat of a concern. BETTER BANJO (1) showed brilliant speed in his Warragul effort and while DR YANNICK (4) nabbed him late, he may be far enough in front to pinch it. HARRY ZOOM (2) is another that could fill a hole at a big price.

Tips: 1-5-4-2

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Race 7: Pink Diamond Rookie Sprinter Final

COMMENT: JULY SHE LIED (1) has the speed, strength and draw to claim the $20,000 winners cheque. CORINTHIAN (4) has impressed at his last two starts and should appreciate a lower draw here. DOONGALLA ROCKET pinged the lids last time but is a risk from this draw, ASCEND ECSTATIC (7) will be powering home.

Tips: 1-4-7-6

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Race 8: Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter Final

COMMENT: EXPLICIT (2) is the best sprinter in the country and will start a short favourite here. Followed his Ballarat Cup win with a brilliant victory at Shepparton and his early speed coupled with a low draw will make him very hard to beat. MATT LOCH (7) has been racing in superlative form, his only defeat in his last nine starts coming when fourth to Explicit in the Ballarat Cup. More than capable of putting himself in a good position from the wide draw, just may not have the overall speed of Explicit head-to-head. BEBOP JAZZ (1) is winless in five starts from the inside draw but should be suited here and will be doing best work late. 

Tips: 2-7-1-3

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Race 9: Pink Diamond Champion Distance Final

COMMENT: ELLA'S BABE (2) is a class stayer who was very good in her heat and drawn well here, is a luxury at the early $5.50 quote. ETHANOL VOLUME (4) and ETHANOL WATER (5) are both proven top class stayers but may be racing a shade below their best. LANFRANCO (8), a group 1 winner, showed good speed last week but the move to out wide from this start is a concern. 

Tips: 2-8-4-5

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Race 10: Pink Diamond Veterans Final

COMMENT: SCHILLACI (3) is still capable of matching it with the best in the land and in veteran's class here he should be a cut above. FUNNY OLD FELLOW (7) was brilliant in his Ballarat heat and with clear running early should be thereabouts again. UNCLE ROSCO (1) seldom runs a bad race and despite the speed on his outer should get a good run from the inside draw. 

Tips: 3-7-1-5

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Race 11: Pink Diamond Princess Final

COMMENT: Looks a race in two between LAKEVIEW JUDE (3) and DEAR CARLA LOU (4). The former blew her rivals away at Warragul but can be a little risky at box rise, while the latter has been reliably away in each of her eight career starts and will be hard to beat if she steps again.

Tips: 4-3-1-5

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Race 12: Pink Diamond Challenger Short Course Final

COMMENT: First since August last year and having had a litter of pups in January, KIMIKO (1) couldn't have been more impressive when winning her heat at Ballarat. She should take further improvement from that first up effort and from the gun draw can win again. MYALL MATE (7) has won his last two starts by a cumulative 20 lengths with both wins coming in the best of the night and both from box 6. However this is harder, and while he deserved to be a short favourite, the red is better value. BUNDY PARADISE'S (8) form is better than it reads, particularly for a race like this, and should get a nice cart into the race and can fill a hole at odds.

Tips: 1-7-8-4

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Best: Race 8 – EXPLICIT (2)

Next Best: Race 1 – BLAZIN' FRIES (1)

Value: Race 6: BETTER BANJO (1)

Quaddie: 123 / 12345 / 1467 / 27 = $50 for 41.67%

Skinny Quaddie: 1 / 16 / 1 / 27 = $50 for 1250%

Place all up: BLAZIN' FRIES (race 1, box 1), DEMOLISH (race 3, box 1), BETTER BANJO (race 6, box 1), ELLA'S BABE (race 9, box 2)