The Meadows Preview: Group 1 Silver Chief Heats

BOOM West Australian speedster Iconic Jet headlines a stellar line up for the Silver Chief heats at The Meadows on Saturday night.

The Shayne Williams-trained son of Bernardo arrives in Victoria with an impressive record of 12 wins from 18 career starts – the last eight of those victories coming in the fastest time of the meeting – however it was his eye catching 29.56 exhibition trial at The Meadows last Friday that set tongues wagging. 

FIELDS AND FORM THE MEADOWS SATURDAY NIGHT

Joining him at the pointy end of all-in betting is Melbourne Cup finalist Epitomize, the exciting Field Day, recent 29.07 Sandown winner Deadly Avenger, and Paw Vortex who enters the series on a four race winning streak.

First run in 1964, the Silver Chief has been won by some of the sport's best young male sprinters with an honour roll boasting the likes of Kantarn Bale, Meticulous, Renegade Chief, Simon Told Helen and Amron Boy.

The winner of each of the six heats plus the two fastest runners up will progress to the $75,000 to the winner group 1 final on Saturday 14 December.

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Best: PAW VORTEX (race 6, box 3)

Odds-on favourites populate the Silver Chief heats – and on form they should all win – but Paw Vortex represents the best value of those short favourites. Enters on a four race winning streak which includes a win at listed level at Wagga, should have the pace at box rise to head the field and if he does, expect him to slash his current 29.84 PB at the track.

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Next Best: TIM ZOO (race 2, box 1)

Again, nothing brave here but should just win. A brilliant winner at group 3 level at Sandown Park last time out, running within a length of the 595m track record. Drops back to the sprint trip here and while pressure will come from Grand Tourer on his immediate outside, should be too good from this draw.

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Value: PAW UCOLTA (race 4, box 2)

In the most open of the Silver Chief heats, Paw Ucolta doesn't win out of turn due to his average early speed, but he should get room at box rise to take a sit outside the red and put himself into a winning position.

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Each way: DRILL SERGEANT (race 9, box 1)

Has been racing in some of the country's elite staying races but drops back to a modest grade 5 here. Has enough early speed to settle forward in this especially from the favourable draw, and you know he'll be doing his best work late.

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Multi builder:

TIM ZOO (race 2, box 1)

PAW UCOLTA (race 4, box 2)

FIELD DAY (race 5, box 2)

ICONIC JET (race 6, box 2)

Quaddie: 2 / 2 / 347 / 145 = $9 for 100%