The Phoenix: Armchair Guide

Wandering Eyes · December 15, 2022

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The inaugural $4.1 million Sportsbet Dream Chasers Festival will come to an epic conclusion at The Meadows on Saturday night with the second running of the $1.65 million The Phoenix (525m), now the richest greyhound race in the world.

Eight slot holders paid $100,000 each to be involved in The Phoenix, which offers a $1 million winner’s purse, with inaugural winner Wow She’s Fast, which secured $750,000 for her 2021 triumph, once again representing Sportsbet.

Trained by Jackie Greenough, the aptly-named Wow She’s Fast won last year’s Phoenix at just her seventh start and has since gone on to reach superstar status.

KEY TIMES

6:37pm First race
7:41pm $20,000 Challenger Match Race | He’s No Slouch vs Amron Dan (Race 4)
8:21pm $14,960 Whiskey Riot Classic (Race 6)
9:26pm $1,650,000 The Phoenix (Race 9)
10:33pm Last race (Race 12)

Wow She’s Fast has won 17 of her 25 starts, highlighted by Group 1 victories in the Sapphire Crown and Maturity Classic, banking $1,258,870 in prizemoney.

Wow She’s Fast had to contend with box 4 in The Phoenix last year and she is once again confronted with an awkward draw in her attempt to go back-to-back, this time exiting box 6, with Sportsbet rating the defending champion a $5 chance.

Wow She’s Fast is one of three canine ‘millionaires’ contesting The Phoenix, alongside Australian greyhound racing’s highest prizemoney winner, New South Wales champion She’s A Pearl ($1,367,470), and Victoria’s first Million Dollar Chase winner McInerney ($1,172,770).

If one of the trio is victorious, they will create history by becoming the first greyhound to surpass a once incomprehensible $2 million in earnings.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
– Troy Little and Brent Zerafa will provide a special Phoenix preview from 6.15pm on Racing.com
– Racing.com will cover every race, every story, and every moment from 6.30pm with Matt White, George Farrugia, Molly Haines, and Corey Smith
– Watch the racing LIVE and FREE on the Watchdog App
– Behind-the-scenes insights on GRV Facebook, @WatchDogRacing Twitter and @greyhoundracingvic Instagram
– Regular updates on RSN Racing and Sport (927 AM)

After connections chose box 1 for She’s A Pearl at last Sunday’s unique pick-your-own-box draw, the reigning Australian Greyhound of the Year is the $3.30 second elect, shaded for favouritism by Victorian powerhouse Amron Boy (box 4) at $3.20.

Trained by Brooke Ennis, Amron Boy was a near-record 29.45sec winner of the Group 1 Silver Chief at The Meadows last Saturday night, only one length outside the 29.38sec course benchmark of Allen Deed, established in 2015.

The only other sprinter at single figure odds is Paddy Wants Pats (box 2) at $6, with the Kelly Bravo-trained blueblood likely to relish an inside draw after having to contend with box eight in both the Group 1 Melbourne and Perth Cups.

POINTS OF INTEREST

BACK TO BACK?
Wow She’s Fast is the only name on The Phoenix honour roll and that could well remain the case with the inaugural winner a $5 chance to defend her crown. Wow She’s Fast was an $11 outsider from box 4 in 2021, when she clocked a flying 29.66sec at just her seventh start.

WHO WANTS TO BE A MULTI MILLIONAIRE?
The Phoenix is the world’s richest race, and three contenders can rewrite history by becoming the first greyhound to surpass $2 million in prizemoney. Victory would see ‘millionaires’ She’s A Pearl (1,376,470), Wow She’s Fast ($1,258,870) and McInerney ($1,172,770) reach the remarkable milestone.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Paddy Wants Pats has the most wins at The Meadows, winning eight of his 18 starts over 525m, just ahead of Amron Boy and Zippy Tesla, which have both won seven times. Amron Boy also has clocked the fastest time at The Meadows, running 29.45sec in both heat and final of the Group 1 Silver Chief at his past two starts. Wow She’s Fast has been victorious in three of her four visits to The Meadows, with her only defeat coming in last month’s Group 1 Topgun.

It’s also worth noting Amron Boy has won two of his three career starts from box 4 and is unbeaten in two appearances from ‘the blue’ at The Meadows.

GOLDEN GIRLS!
Female trainers dominate the pointy end of The Phoenix betting market, with all four runners at single figure quotes prepared by members of the fairer sex (ably assisted by their husbands); Amron Boy (Brooke Ennis), She’s A Pearl (Jodie Lord), Paddy Wants Pats (Kelly Bravo) and Wow She’s Fast (Jackie Greenough).

SIBLING RIVALRY
While Amron Boy and Wow She’s Fast shape as key players in The Phoenix, their siblings, Amron Dan and He’s No Slouch, the first and second reserves for the main event, will match motors in the $20,000 The Challenger Match Race (Race 4).

THE PHOENIX (525m)
The Meadows Race 9, Saturday 9:26pm
Total prizemoney $1.65 million (First prize $1 million)
1 SHE’S A PEARL (Slot Holder – Tabcorp)
Trainer: Jodie Lord, Gunning NSW
2 PADDY WANTS PATS (Slot Holder – Keeping-Zipping Syndicate)
Trainer: Kelly Bravo, Freshwater Creek VIC
3 EL DORADO (Slot Holder – Peter Sadler Removals and Logistics)
Trainer: Daryl Holmes, Blind Bight VIC
4 AMRON BOY (Slot Holder – Sports Entertainment Network)
Trainer: Brooke Ennis, Lara VIC
5 ZIPPY TESLA (Slot Holder – Neds)
Trainer: Bradley Keel, Anakie VIC
6 WOW SHE’S FAST (Slot Holder – Sportsbet)
Trainer: Jackie Greenough, Pearcedale VIC
7 TYANNA BELLE (Slot Holder – Racing Queensland)
Trainer: Douglas Gladman, Elimbah QLD
8 McINERNEY (Slot Holder – RSN 927)
Trainer: Brendan Pursell, Lara VIC
Reserves
9 AMRON DAN (Brooke Ennis, Lara VIC)
10 HE’S NO SLOUCH (Peter Craig, Langwarrin VIC)