Pink Diamond Series Reaches Crescendo

AUSTRALIA'S richest provincial meeting will be run at Ballarat on Friday night as the rich GRV Pink Diamond Series reaches its conclusion.

More than $1.1m in prize money will be distributed across 12 feature races, with bonuses for breeders attached to each.

There are races for greyhounds of all grades including maidens, top grade and veterans over the 390m, 450m and 660m distances, showcasing some of Victoria's finest canine athletes.

FIELDS AND FORM BALLARAT FRIDAY

The headline act of the meeting is the Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter Final (race 8) over 450m and worth $110,000.

An action packed 12 race card for the Pink Diamond series awaits this Friday!@GRV_News Chair Peita Duncan explains why it is such an important series. pic.twitter.com/gPsKSAJIH1

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 16, 2022

Four-time country cup winner Ferdinand Boy is the deserved favourite for the race after drawing box one. Trained by David Geall, Ferdinand Boy qualified for the final after overcoming a tardy start in his heat at Shepparton and nabbing Panama Canal on the line.

The win ended Panama Canal's 12-race winning streak while extending Ferdinand Boy's to seven.

He is the only greyhound in the field to have broken 25 seconds – he's done it three times – with his 24.84 best time coming when claiming the 2021 Ballarat Cup.

Ferdinand Boy has won five of seven starts from box one (and has won 10 of 14 from box two to highlight the value of the inside draw).

Panama Canal was gallant in his defeat at Shepparton and has the pace to challenge for the early lead, but the race maps beautifully for Ferdinand Boy and the $2.10 on offer from TAB looks a safe bet.

For those looking for a bit more value, Gypsy Yankee should have the pace to hold a forward position from box three, and excellent recent city form to his name has the $16 a win and $3 a place is good value.

In the night's other $75,000 to the winner finals, Silver Brute is drawn to win the Pink Diamond Champion Short Course Final (390m), while the Champion Distance Final (660m) looks a much more open affair.

Sandown 595m track record holder Collinda Patty is the $2.15 favourite after bouncing back to the winner's list after an unsuccessful tilt at ‘The 715m' at Newcastle.

She'll find the 660m distance to her liking but box six brings with it its challenges.

Aston Velvet (3), Manila Dusk (4) and Aston Jonas (5) all have early speed and will be pushing forward early, while Golden Quest (8) will be pouring on the pressure from out wide.

The first of 12 races will jump at 6.57pm.

Best – Ferdinand Boy (race 8 box 1)

Next Best – Jungle Panther (race 7, box 1)

Value – Silver Brute (race 5, box 2)

Each way – Flying Foxy (race 4, box 1)

Quaddie – 238 / 34568 / 128 / 1 = 93% for $50