Geall ‘Good Odds' For Goulburn Cup Boilover

LEADING Victorian trainer Dave Geall admits his star duo Emerald Rainbow and Fernando Drums have the job ahead to overturn a rampaging Good Odds Harada in Sunday's Ladbrokes Goulburn Gold Cup Final (440m).

"To be truthful I didn't know he (Good Odds Harada) was going there … if I had I would have stayed at home!" declared Geall in the lead up to Sunday's final.

On an action packed afternoon of racing last Tuesday, it was Good Odds Harada that set the time-standard for Sunday's $25,000 to-the-winner Goulburn Cup, stopping the clock in a breathtaking 24.61 for Frank Hurst – just four days on from his Million Dollar Chase triumph at Wentworth Park.

The remaining heats were won by Lightning Vision for Neil Staines in 24.93, while Jodie Lord claimed the other two qualifiers, Wynburn Lily and Spookie Vision each posting 24.78.

Geall's pairing of Emerald Rainbow and Fernando Drums progressed through to Sunday's finale with credible runner-up performances.

Emerald Rainbow, a 25-time winner, and Fernando Drums, a 31-time winner, are brothers to former champion sprinter, turned highly sought after stud proposition My Redeemer.

The pair are no strangers to feature finals either, carving out impressive records on the group race circuit over the past 12 or so months.

"Had Fernando Drums drawn inside I'd have given him a chance but it's going to be very hard from five," lamented Geall.

"They are both very, very good dogs, their records tell you that – but it's going to be hard to beat Good Odds Harada in the form he's in. He'd need to do a lot wrong and we'd need to do a lot right. Gee, he's a good dog."

Geall returns to Goulburn on Sunday for his second Cup tilt after Fernando Drums finished fifth in last year's final behind Scientific Man.

Interestingly, but not surprisingly however, Geall elected to bypass his ‘hometown' Geelong Cup to contest the Goulburn Cup, far from pleased about the stance the Geelong Club has adopted around its finish on racing policy.

"Instead of driving eight minutes to Geelong I've driven eight hours to Goulburn," said Geall.

"The (Geelong) clubs attitude is that it's finish on racing or nothing. There's no option and it's disappointing and frustrating. There's a number of leading trainers that just won't race there because of it.

"I'm all for providing trainers' with choices. But at Geelong now it's either like it or lump it. It's wrong.

"Say at Randwick you have Gai Waterhouse and Chris Waller raise issues with the track. Would the committee listen to their thoughts and feelings or turn their backs?

"It's just very disappointing, and as I say I'm not the only one that feels that way. You only need to look at the trainers not racing there."

This Sunday at Goulburn, Geall is faced with the most daunting proposition in greyhound racing at the present time – tackling an airborne Good Odds Harada.

But the Lara based conditioner is still looking forward to the challenge.

"Goulburn is a very progressive club," Geall said.

"Great facilities and they make you feel very welcome.

"I think we've been in six or seven group finals this year and haven't cracked one yet. We'll need a lot to go our way on Sunday."

Million Dollar Chase champ Good Odds Harada (box three) is currently a red hot $1.28 favourite to continue on his merry winning way.

Emerald Rainbow is a $7.50 chance from his box two draw while Fernando Drums – from box five – is quoted a $9.00 chance.

Geall's chances at Goulburn on Sunday don't solely rest in the Group 3 Cup with his prolific winning sprinter Untold Soldier going around in race three.

Winner at 18 of his 40 starts, the son of Spring Gun finished a distant third behind hot young prospect Here Comes Joe in a Fireball heat (350m) on Tuesday.

"He should go really well on Sunday," Geall said.

"He's due to jump and that run will do him a lot of good."