MEDIA RELEASE

                     Friday 15th December, 2006                        
   
   

2007 SKY CHANNEL ADELAIDE CUP  

The Summer Chasing Carnival and the Adelaide Cup are not far away. The carnival has been extended by one week this year, with the Sky Channel Adelaide Cup Final listed for Thursday 25^th January (Australia Day eve). This is the major change this year, with the Cup having the same format as last year (see conditions).  

Another change will be the addition of a new race to be called the New Year Sprint. This event will be run on the 4^th January (West End Distance Championship Final night) and will carry prize money of $3,000. A Best 8 race, the winner will have the added bonus of gaining automatic selection to the TOP 24 and the Interstate Challenge the following week, as long as it has been nominated for the Adelaide Cup.  

2007 Sky Channel Adelaide Cup Conditions  

Adelaide Cup Race Dates:

Thursday 11^th January: Sky Channel Adelaide Cup Preludes (up to 8)  

Thursday 18^th Jan: Sky Channel Adelaide Cup Heats x 4  

Thursday 25^th Jan: Sky Channel Adelaide Cup Final  

Total Prizemoney & Trophies of $100,000  

Nominations:

Close on Wednesday 3^rd January with GRSA at 12.00pm . A special nomination form is available from GRSA.  

TOP 24:

Adelaide Cup Selection Panel will select the TOP 24 greyhounds. They will be seeded through to the Adelaide Cup Heats on January 18^th.  

From the TOP 24, invitations will be issued to greyhounds to compete in the Interstate Challenge on January 11^th (At least 4 SA greyhounds will be included in the TOP 24). Remaining greyhounds will be graded into race/s on the 11^th, unless withdrawn as per acceptance procedure below. Withdrawal by a TOP 24 greyhound at this point does not affect its Cup Heat position.  

The winner of the New Year Sprint, run on Thursday 4^th January gains automatic selection to the TOP 24 and the Interstate Challenge.  

Acceptance:

The TOP 24 list will be released on Friday morning (5^th). After release of this list, Trainers not wishing to race on January 11^th, will have up until 9.00am on Monday 8th January to withdraw from this meeting. Any withdrawals after this time will be subject to normal scratching penalties.  

Remaining greyhounds nominated will compete in the Cup preludes, with the top 8 qualifying (under normal heat & final rules) for the Adelaide Cup Heats. The reserves for the heats will be the next eligible qualifiers. Should any of the TOP 24 be withdrawn prior to the box draw for the Cup Heats, it will be replaced by the next highest qualifier from the Preludes.  

Adelaide Cup Heats:

The Box Draw for the four Adelaide Cup Heats will take place at GRSA on Monday 15^th January at approximately 1.30pm .

The heats of the Adelaide Cup will be run on Thursday 18^th January. The first two from each heat will qualify for the Final, with the two fastest thirds declared as reserves (as per heat & final rules).  

Adelaide Cup Selection Panel:

A Selection Panel will choose the TOP 24 and the greyhounds to be invited to the Interstate Challenge. This panel will consist of the GRSA Grader (Chairman), Operations Manager, Racing Officer and Industry Representative along with 2 members of the SA greyhound media.  

The media members that have agreed to act on this year’s panel are Craig Cook from the Advertiser and Brenton Yates from Radio TAB.  

A special nomination form with the conditions attached is available from GRSA.  

SUMMER CHASING CARNIVAL  

The full list of dates for this years Summer Chasing Carnival is :  

Thursday 28^th December:           

$2,200 West End Distance Championship Heats – 731m

(Nominations close 9.00am , Friday 22^nd December)  

Thursday 4^th January:     

$21,500 West End Distance Championship Final (Group 3)

$3,000 New Year Sprint – 515m

(Nominations close 9.00am , Friday 29^th December)  

Thursday 11^th January:    

Sky Channel Adelaide Cup Preludes (up to 8)

Advertiser Interstate Challenge (Group 3)

(Nominations for the Cup & I/S Challenge close 12.00pm Wednesday 3^rd January – other events close 9.00am Monday 8^th January)  

Thursday 18^th January:   

Sky Channel Adelaide Cup Heats (4)

John Gray Memorial Heats - Grade 5

(Nominations close 9.00am Monday 15^th January)  

Thursday 25^th January:

Sky Channel Adelaide Cup Final (Group 1)

John Gray Memorial Final

(Nominations close 9.00am Monday 22^nd January)  

Further Information:

Peter Smith   (08) 8243 7100
Operations Manager
Greyhound Racing SA