Epic Clash Headlines Meadows Card

THE clash between Houdini Boy and Hard Style Rico at The Meadows this Saturday afternoon has all the ingredients to be a blockbuster.

THE clash between Houdini Boy and Hard Style Rico at The Meadows on Saturday afternoon has all the ingredients to be a blockbuster.

On show will be the searing speed of Hard Style Rico opposed to the powerhouse finishing prowess of Houdini Boy.

And it's those varying racing styles that sets up the $12,000 to-the-winner 600 metre finale as a tantalizing match up.

Last weekend, Hard Style Rico stepped up to 600 metres for the first time to land his qualifier in a slick best of program 34.39 for trainer Luckie Karabitsakos.

And while the Shepparton Cup hero led throughout to justify his short quote, a few races earlier, Houdini Boy unleashed his trademark barnstorming finish to reel in his opposition and record 34.43.

Only half-a-length separated their qualifying times at the finish, yet where they recorded those overall times was vastly different.

Hard Style Rico scooted through the first split in a blistering 8.87 while Houdini Boy, as we've come to expect, recorded a pedestrian 9.29.

And in contrast, Houdini Boy broke the clock with mesmerising closing sections while Hard Style Rico just had enough in the tank having set up a race winning lead.

Sportsbetting.com.au can't separate the pair in betting for Saturday's finale, installing the excitement machines at $1.98 take your pick.

Houdini Boy will exit box three for trainer Kel Greenough while Hard Style Rico has drawn box seven.

Adding further intrigue to the finale is the appearance of half-brothers Tornado Tears and Here's Tears from boxes one and eight respectively.

The pair are double figure odds in betting, somewhat remarkable given their imposing records and lofty reputations.

THE MEADOWS FIELD AND FORM

The record books say Tornado Tears has drawn box one on three occasions during his career for three wins.

But when you consider two of those box one draws were in Speed Star series' at Sandown Park, Saturday's final is effectively just the second time he'll don the red rug in his 63 start career.

And while his best days are behind him, perhaps a rails hugging run in transit from box one may be enough to see the five-time group 1 winner in the finish.

Here's Tears can't be left out of calculations either, the Sandown Park track record holder well versed with strong performances from wide draws.

The race promises to be a fantastic spectacle on a terrific Saturday afternoon of racing at The Meadows which features superstar brothers Simon Told Helen and Who Told Stevie.

 

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