Treherne's Charge Ready To Explode In Hume Cup

TRAINER Craig Treherne is hoping an exasperating run with box draws isn't enough to deny Highly Explosive a place in the Group 1 Hume Cup Final (600m) at The Meadows on Melbourne Cup eve.

The star chaser boasts unbridled ability and will tackle heat five from box four of the $75,000-to-the-winner series, the fourth time she'll carry the blue rug in her past five starts.

"We are having absolutely no luck with box draws," Treherne said. "Hopefully if she makes the final the banjo is a little kinder to us. Here's hoping."

Highly Explosive goes into Saturday night's Hume Cup heats on the strength of a powerhouse 27.18 Horsham victory on Tuesday, her fourth run back from an injury enforced lay-off.

THE MEADOWS FIELD AND FORM

"She tore a quad muscle trialling at Sandown the week after she won over the 650m at Sale in July," Treherne said.

"It took a good 11 weeks to get it right and the plan was to always give her some 460s on the bigger tracks to build her fitness back up when she returned.

ICYMI: HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE (6) hit top gear with a barnstorming win over kennelmate SIX SPEED MANUAL (4) at Horsham yesterday

? HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE
? C. Treherne
? #SpeedStar (515m) finalist
? Won 9 from 23
? 27.18sec (Best)

Results ? https://t.co/YPmz92zFG7 | #GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/T9sG8P6AnV

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) October 20, 2021

"She's a lovely clean winded bitch and has had a stack of work at home so I'm not worried about her running the 600m first up on Saturday.

"Her chances though will be decided in the first 15 yards from box four on the bend start. She'll need luck."

Winner at nine of her 23 starts, Highly Explosive (Barcia Bale x Explosive Madame) has always given the indication her future belonged over 600 metres and further.

And Treherne plans to use her Hume Cup assignment as a stepping stone towards next month's Group 1 Bold Trease (715m) at Sandown Park.

"I'd say her 500 days have been and gone now," Treherne said.

"She's a high class bitch … her times show you that. Having run 29.16 at Sandown – you can count on one hand the number of bitches that have gone better than 29.20 there.

"She runs 25.30 at Geelong and runs home in 14.10 which they just don't do.

"There's a really nice race in her and if we get some luck go our way in the next month or so she's right up to these better races."

TAB Fixed Odds have Highly Explosive a $3 favourite for Saturday night's fifth Hume Cup heat ahead of Mepunga Warrior (box two) at $3.40 and Jarick Bale (box eight) at $3.80.

"I'm hoping the three (Aston Lavinia) leads and gives her a nice drag into the race," Treherne said.

"She won't be in the first few early but if she gets onto the fence with clear air then she'll get moving. I've got no doubt she can run low 34 seconds if not under. She's feeling great."

Win, lose or draw in the middle distance feature, Treherne will push ahead towards a Bold Trease berth.

Back in 2011, Treherne finished second in the Group 1 staying showpiece with his former top flight chaser Echelon.