Carnival begins with Sale Cup

Greyhound Racing Victoria’s Gippsland carnival will begin with he Sale Cup on Boxing Day.

Heats for the Sale Cup were held last week, with the first heat seeing a minor upset with the Maryborough trained Myrniong Corner defeat Billy’s Bake and series favourite relegated to third, meaning he is only a reserve for the final.

The second heat was the most evenly graded of the three heats and the classy sprinter-stayer Dyna Chancer showed great track sense at his first look at the Sale circuit, recording a brilliant 36.96 time.

Not to be outdone the all distance star of Gippsland racing Neo Cleo made it three in a row over the Cup distance in a very quick 36.85. It is rare for a greyhound to break the 37 second barrier at Sale. The fact that only one Sale Cup winner (Mantra Lad) has ever broken 37 seconds in winning the Cup bears testimony to the quality of this year’s field.

The four heats of the Carnival Sprint were won by Dyna Hunter, Fully Loaded, Duce Royal and Big Flood with Sale track specialist Jesaulenko defying his age and qualifying for another Cup night feature.

Heats were also held for the Rising Stars and Summer Cup, which will feature on race six and seven on the Cup program. Both races carry a first prize of $10,000.

More than $170,000 in stake money will be up for grabs at Sale on Boxing Day. Box draws: Summer Cup: 1. My Bro Kade 2. Blue Sky Riot 3. Milky Jones 4. Azkaban 5. Mars Rising 6. Alberto 7. Audacious Poppy 8. Okay Kirsty 9. ( Res ) Takaho Tiger and 10. ( Res ) Hunkapapa.

Rising Star: 1. What’s Up Skip 2. It’s a Thrill 3. Mia Tesoro 4. Whiskey Riot 5. Blistering 6. Jebrynah Helios 7. Moroka Assassin 8. Solid Bling 9. ( Res ) Top Gem 10. ( Res ) Bintang Bullet.

Gippsland Carnival Sprint: 1. Big Flood 2. Fully Loaded 3. Aston Giesha 4. Dyna Winter 5. Dyna Hunter 6. Jesaulenko 7. Mrniong and All 8. Duce Royal 9 ( Res ) Ice Cool Kaedyn 10. ( Feikuai Donna.

Sale Cup: 1. Blackjacks Neo 2. Myrniong Corner 3. Van Ann 4. Billys Bake 5. Dyna Chancer 6. Neo Cleo 7. Black Impala 8. 8. Juniper Pearl 9 ( Res ) Barcali 10. ( Res ) King Colt.