Caption: Queensland’s star chaser Jay Is Jay seems to be the forgotten candidate for a slot in The Phoenix. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)

Betting analyst MATT McCANN offers advice on successfully navigating Puntersland

Following in the footsteps of ‘The Everest’ for the gallops, greyhound racing soon stages the third running of its own version of a slot-holder event; known as ‘The Phoenix’, which will be run at The Meadows on December 16.

Obviously, selection strategy is important.  

Do you secure a runner early and hope that such white-hot form can be maintained, or do you play the patience game and wait until the last few weeks before the big race when current form is crucial?

Even then, will you be first on the phone to negotiate and seal the deal?

There are many variables involved which all add to the intrigue of this unique format.

At this stage, three dogs have been confirmed; the Jason Thompson trained pair Alpha Zulu and Postman Pat while boom pup Schillaci also lines up.  

Interestingly, all three have blotted their copybook in recent runs with Alpha Zulu yet to convert his impeccable horseshoe track form over to the 500’s in top company, while ‘Pat’ is still seeking redemption at the elite level and Schillaci remains unproven against the very best under full-field conditions.        

Meanwhile, a couple of prime candidates look almost certain to be snapped up by eager slot-holders.    

Big Energy looks a moral to start after a dominant lid-pinging performance in the ‘Shootout’ while Transponder’s ultra-consistent form over the last six months is impossible to ignore.

So, five leading hopes mentioned, and all classified as on-pace.

From a betting perspective, you would normally ‘find your leader’ and dismiss the backmarkers, however if the final field for the 2023 Phoenix does take shape as expected then there appears to very little separating the early speed which may see a dog parked off the pace having the final say.    

Some other key runners spring to mind who possess the adaptability to stalk the lead group.

Firstly, there is Wow She’s Fast who is striving for an incredible three-peat in this year’s edition. The reports are all positive that she will be kept on the fresh side and given her opportunity at immortality.      

Strangely, it seems as clear as day that Jay Is Jay is the forgotten contender.

He can take up a forward position but does not have to lead to win as shown in his MDC triumph over Postman Pat.

A price disparity exists between the two dogs in pre-post Phoenix markets.  

Next, we have the wildcards.

When on song, Kelsey Bale is capable of bewildering performances with proven track stats to boot, while Fast Minardi offers genuine versatility.

Runner-up in a National Distance Final, he then returned home to Tasmania to win half a dozen sprint races in succession before leading all the way at Sandown Park in running 29.10 on a wet track. 

The beast that is Hector Fawley is another who will likely benefit from a hotly contested pace up front.

Desperate for the fence, he will need a stroke of luck via the preferential box process should he gain selection, while the same can also be said for Victa Damian who conversely needs to be ‘off fence’ to produce the quality closing sectionals required.       

The evergreen Yachi Bale is another to be considered.

While he doesn’t boast the imposing strike-rates of more highly touted rivals, he is more than capable of redeeming decent prizemoney.

There is no doubt that Melbourne Cup results will sway late slot decision-making, but I’m tipping the Phoenix winner will not be the leader at the first mark.