Flood Of Money For Midnight Dare

SERIES favourite Midnight Dare will tackle Feral Franky in the third of the Bill Collins Speed Star Match Races (515m) at Sandown Park on Sunday night.

Installed a $2.30 favourite to take home the $20,000 first prize for trainers Jason and Seona Thompson, Midnight Dare qualified for the Speed Star with a brilliant 29.17 Sandown trial on April 21, a performance that shocked few, having made her way to Victoria with a huge boom, winning five of her six starts in sizzling times for owner and breeder Dave Pringle.

There to keep her honest on Sunday is the Jack Smith-trained Feral Franky, the last start Group 3 New Sensation winner catching the eye of locals with a flying 29.27 Sandown gallop on Sunday, the son of Collision doing enough to set up the tantalizing clash this weekend.

Ideally suited by the two-dog format, and capable of reeling off ridiculous closing sectionals, Feral Franky has been quoted a $9.00 chance to land Sunday's Bill Collins Speed Star, with his first hurdle of course overcoming the prodigiously talented Midnight Dare.

In other Bill Collins Speed Star match-ups Sunday, Vital Force will tackle Belt Up Bubbs, Southern Ripple lines up against Warrnambool Cup finalist Lucy's Milo, while in the final leg, Lagoon Rhett is pitted up against Eight Ball, the latter qualifying with a stunning 29.24 victory at the circuit on Sunday.

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Sunday's extravaganza of match racing gets underway with the Racecallers Speed Star (595m) for the middle distance chasers, early favourtism held jointly between Neo Cleo and Blue Striker at $3.20 apiece.

Group 1 Sale Cup winner Neo Cleo ran a slick 34.06 in a solo-trial on Sunday to stake her Speed Star claims for Rob Britton, with her last race start an outstanding 29.39 victory in the Easter Gift (515m) at Sandown Park.

The daughter of Cosmic Rumble lines up against Annie Lava in her match race, while recent Golden Easter Egg finalist Blue Striker will take on Blue Shadows, who ran a scorching 33.90 at the track for Angela Langton on April 7.

Exceptional talent Ella Enchanted, a $3.70 third favourite for the series, takes on She Will Bloom in the fourth heat, while the day gets underway with outsiders Apex Within and Ask Me Now locking horns.

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THE absence of Tornado Tears and Embye has robbed the Lizrene Speed Star (715m) of plenty of firepower, with Correy Grenfell's front running stayer Dyna Chancer declared a $1.60 favourite for the event on the strength of his 41.63 PB.

In what promises to an enthralling battle, given the stark contrast in their racing styles, Dyna Chancer tackles Steve White's Boom Down in match race two, with many experts expecting the winner of that clash to take home the $20,000 first prize.

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Early betting for the first 515m Speed Star consolation sees reserves Orson Allen ($1.90) and Dyna Patty ($3.50) hold sway, engaged in Wednesday's Warrnambool Cup decider.

Of those currently in the field, Flynn, Fabwik and Grey Ghost are all quoted at around the $3.60 mark, with the final match-race between Fabwik and Grey Ghost promising to be an epic clash, with little separating the two in betting.

Betting for consolation two over the 515m is headed by Seona Thompson's two time Group 1 winner Deliver, quoted a $2.10 chance with a clear class edge on his opposition.

Second elect is Steve White's Red Rock, another sure to be well suited by the two-out conditions and capable of improving on the 29.50 he posted in a trial on Sunday.