Saturday Night: Warragul Cup Preview

SATURDAY night's Group 2 Warragul Toyota Cup (460m) looms as one of the most open feature events on record, with six of the eight finalists quoted under double figure odds with bookmaker Bet365.

Five heats of the $47,000 to-the-winner series were run and won last Friday with the time-standard set by the Harry Manolitsis-trained Elevated, the group 1 winning daughter of Bella Infrared gunning down fellow finalist Dyna Hunter late in a sizzling 25.48.

Winner of the $100,000 to-the-winner Sapphire Crown at Sandown Park last May, Elevated has been installed a $4.60 chance from box seven for Saturday night's Warragul Cup Final, while her in-form kennelmate Italian Plastic, winner of his heat narrowly in 25.89, is a $7.50 elect from box two.

Atop of betting is Dyna Hunter from box eight for trainer Steve Collins, the hugely talented son of Dyna Villa unbeaten in six box eight starts, a stat that has clearly caught the eye of punters.

Sitting up in box one for the final is Big Flood for trainer Seona Thompson, the son of Banjo Boy finishing 1 ¼ lengths second in his qualifier behind Orson Allen in a slick 25.53.

Winner at 30 of his 51 starts and a finalist in a multitude of group events during his career, Big Flood is quoted a $4.60 chance for Saturday night's finale, while from box six, Orson Allen is $3.20, with the Group 3 Shootout hero searching for his 18^th career success for trainer Correy Grenfell.

To give you an indication of depth for Saturday night's Warragul Cup, Kouta Mayhem, third to Aston Dee Bee in last year's finale and winner of the Healesville Cup back in September, has been quoted a $31.00 chance after landing his heat, albeit in moderate time.

The Group 2 Warragul Cup is race eight on Saturday night's card, with the other feature of the program, the Warragul Distance Cup (680m), featuring the return to racing of Group 1 Galaxy winner Rippin' Sam.

Click here for the fields and form for Saturday night's Warragul Cup program