Typhoon alert: Batten down the Bendigo hatches!

[Wandering Eyes]

New track record holder Typhoon Sammy (Box 7) is TAB’s $2 favourite to hand champion trainer Jason Thompson a fifth victory in the $71,250 Group 2 Chasers Function Centre Bendigo Cup final (425m), to be held on Saturday night.

Typhoon Sammy is a son of 2017 Melbourne Cup winner and Bendigo Cup placegetter Aston Dee Bee, which was trained by Thompson and wife Seona, whose previous Bendigo Cup wins came with El Galo (2008), Peggy May (2012), Ronan Izmir (2013) and Aston Bolero (2016).

After starting his career in Northern NSW, Typhoon Sammy relocated to Victoria and is yet to taste defeat in five appearances for the powerful Thompson kennel, boosting his imposing overall record to 16 from 23 when smashing Bendigo’s 425m track record in last Saturday night’s Cup heats.

Typhoon Sammy ran 23.28sec to break the previous benchmark of 23.35sec, set by former superstar Shima Shine in last year’s heats.

But while Typhoon Sammy, which moves from Box 1 to Box 7 for the $50,000 to-the-winner final, is dominating Cup discussions, it’s by no means a one-act affair, with boom talent Paua Of Buddy (Box 1), Dr. Tucker (Box 4) and country cups ‘king’ Ferdinand Boy (Box 5) all lining up for a crack at the even-money favourite.

Recently crowned Warragul 400m record holder Paua Of Buddy, trained by Steve White,  is the $3.90 second elect after drawing the coveted rails alley, ahead of William McMahon’s Dr. Tucker at $4.40, which produced the second quickest heat performance, just outside Shima Shine’s previous record at his third start from an enforced  spell.

Incredibly, Ferdinand Boy, which has already won the Ballarat, Healesville and Shepparton Cups in 2021, as well as the accompanying $50,000 bonus for claiming three country cups in a calendar year, is on the fourth line of betting at $6.50.

That would be Ferdinand Boy’s longest starting price since the Listed Western Districts Derby final at Geelong back on February 10 – 29 starts ago – underlining the incredible depth of Saturday’s field.

The ‘Big Four’ dominate the market, with the remaining finalists all double figures.

Dual G1 finalist Shima Classic (Box 3) is at $13, the underrated Perfect Colour (Box 2) could represent value at $26, while Graeme Jose’s pair Lots Of Chatter (Box 8) and Aston Shine (Box 6) are the outsiders of a stellar line-up at $31 and $51 respectively.

Here’s a rundown of the contenders:
Group 2 Bendigo Cup final (425m)

1 PAUA OF BUDDY
Trainer: Steve White (Buln Buln East)
Breeding: April 2019 Aston Dee Bee x Paua To Admit
Comment: Won 7 from 10. Lightly-raced and prodigiously talented speedster that came into the Cup heats after breaking the Warragul 400m track record.  Missed the start from Box 8 in his heat but rounded up his rivals and careered away in 23.59sec. Can’t afford to miss it again but if he comes out running will be right in it. (PB – 23.59sec)

2 PERFECT COLOUR
Trainer: Jane Reynolds (Pearcedale)
Breeding: October 2018 Fernando Bale x Cooler Colour
Comment: Won 20 from 53. Super consistent sprinter that’s proven he’s up to elite company in recent weeks. Beat Dr. Tucker in Sale Sprint heat and then close 3^rd to Ferdinand Boy in final. Finished best in 23.67sec heat win, his 5^th win from 7 starts over Trk/Dst. Making first appearance at Group level but capable of figuring at big odds. (PB – 23.67sec)

3 SHIMA CLASSIC
Trainer: Andrea Dailly (Anakie)
Breeding: May 2019 Mepunga Blazer x Shima Song
Comment: Won 13 from 32. Classy dual G1 and G2 Ballarat Cup finalist. Was ideally drawn in Box 8 in commanding heat win, albeit in the ‘slowest’ of the runoffs. Her fate is likely to be determined early with enormous speed and pressure on her outside. (PB – 23.90sec)

4 DR. TUCKER
Trainer: William McMahon (Darriman)
Breeding: October 2018 Bernardo x Dr. Dawn
Comment: Won 17 from 29. Huge talent with sensational record but has been restricted by injury and illness throughout the year. Scorching 23.38sec heat win was his third run back from a spell after running second to Ferdinand Boy in Sale Sprint at previous run, so should be close to his peak now. Major player. (PB – 23.38sec)

5 FERDINAND BOY
Trainer: David Geall (Lara)
Breeding: January 2019 Fernando Bale x Nayla Swift
Comment: Won 30 from 52. What more can you say about three-time country cups hero? Absolute superstar and ultimate competitor that keeps finding a way to win on the big stage. Has to contend with Box 5 but is well-acquainted with it, having drawn ‘the yellow’ in 5 of his last 9 starts, including heat and G2 Healesville Cup wins. Amazingly, he could be the forgotten runner here. Big yes. (PB – 23.52sec)

6 ASTON SHINE
Trainer: Graeme Jose (Catani)
Breeding: January 2019 Fernando Bale x Fantastic Dotty
Comment: Won 13 from 49. Racing in great form, winning past three, and qualified for his first Group event with fast-finishing heat victory. Likely to find it tough in this company and from the awkward draw. (PB – 23.75sec)

7 TYPHOON SAMMY
Trainer: Jason Thompson (Pearcedale)
Breeding: January 2019 Aston Dee Bee x Zabaleta
Comment: Won 16 from 23. New track record holder that’s taken all before him since arriving in Victoria, winning five on end for four-time Bendigo Cup winner Jason Thompson. Was breathtaking in smashing former superstar Shima Shine’s previous record from Box 1 last week and given clear running is the one they have to beat. (PB – 23.28sec)

8 LOTS OF CHATTER
Trainer: Graeme Jose (Catani)
Breeding: January 2018 Fernando Bale x Alotta Luck
Comment: Won 30 from 83. Grand campaigner that doesn’t know how to run a bad race. Contesting second country cup final after running fourth at Cranbourne in February. Smart heat winner, yet to miss a place over the course and has great record from Box 8. Hard to see him winning but could add value to exotics. (PB – 23.54sec)

Reserves

9 TIGGERLONG TONK
Trainer: Correy Grenfell (Anakie)
Breeding: February 2018 Dyna Double One x Tiggerlong Dot
Comment: Won 42 from 90. One of the best sprinters in the land and ran second in last year’s Cup final. Was no match for the airborne Typhoon Sammy when second in record-breaking heat but has to be respected if he gains a start. (PB – 23.47sec)

10 KINSON BALE
Trainer: Samantha Grenfell (Anakie)
Breeding: August 2019 Barcia Bale x Hae Allen
Comment: Won 10 from 38. Talented type that chased home Ferdinand Boy in heat. This looks too tough. (PB – 23.65sec)

HEAT WINNERS (fastest to slowest)

• 23.281sec Typhoon Sammy
• 23.379sec Dr. Tucker
• 23.523sec Ferdinand Boy
• 23.536sec Lots Of Chatter
• 23.590sec Paua Of Buddy
• 23.672sec Perfect Colour
• 23.745sec Aston Shine
• 23.900sec Shima Classic

KEY TIMES

• 6.35pm First race
• 7.14pm GRV Vic Bred Maiden final (Race 3)
• 7.34pm Battler’s Cup final (Race 4)
• 8.38pm G2 Bendigo Cup final (Race 7)
• 8.58pm Spring Cup final (Race 8)
• 9.17pm Match Race – Kinson Bale vs Music Event – (Race 9)
• 10.20pm Last race (Race 12)

RECENT BENDIGO CUP WINNERS

• 2011 Enry Walt (Gary Ennis, Sandhurst VIC)
• 2012 Peggy May (Jason Thompson, Pearcedale VIC)
• 2013 Ronan Izmir (Jason Thompson, Pearcedale VIC)
• 2014 Paw Licking (April) (Kelvyn Greenough, Pearcedale VIC) & Warrior King (July) (Brooke Ennis, Lara VIC)
• 2015 Fernando Bale (Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC)
• 2016 Aston Bolero (Jason Thompson, Pearcedale, VIC)
• 2017 Landmark (Robert Britton, Lara VIC)
• 2018 Vanderworp (Chris Halse, Nambeelup WA)
• 2019 Crimson Vixen (Norm McCullagh, Warrnambool VIC)
• 2020 Yozo Bale (Correy Grenfell, Anakie VIC)

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION

• Watch every race LIVE and FREE via watchdog.grv.org.au or on Sky Racing.
• Trent Langskaill to provide regular crosses to RSN Racing and Sport (927 AM).
• SEN Track (1593 AM).
• Extensive Twitter coverage with ‘@WatchDogRacing’

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