David Shortte’s Perth Cup and Galaxy Heat Night Preview

Posted on January 27, 2017January 27, 2017 | Posted by David Shortte

On Saturday night at Cannington the biggest evening on the local greyhound racing calendar takes place with eight heats of the Group 1 Sky Racing Perth Cup over 520 metres and four heats of the Group 1 Sky Racing Galaxy for the stayers over 715 metres.

The Perth Cup looks set to be dominated by the locals with just Fanta Bale from the Robert Britton kennel heading across from Victoria for a dash at the Group 1 riches. Fanta Bale has shown herself to be a classy sprinter to this point of her career winning 16 of her 24 career starts with a further 5 placings and more than $165,000 in prizemoney. She was successful in the Group 1 Hume Cup and has been placed in the Group 2 Laurels and looms as the X factor runner in the series.

There are a string of hot locals in the Perth Cup series including Astrozone, Pepper Fire, Krugerrand, Monaro Monelli, Penny Monelli, Starlight Asha and Single Sticka. Despite the lack of interstate representation with so many quality locals it is still set to be a keenly contested event.

From a Galaxy perspective there is a strong east coast flavour with Bogie Bekim, Obi Kenobi, Trip To Eden, It’s A Fling, Jaimandy Hatty, Jed Monelli and Winsome April all heading west for a tilt at WA’s richest staying event of the year. They will do battle with proven locals Ramifications, Teddy Monelli and Caprice Monelli.

As an added bonus for TABtouch customers there will be an additional Superpick available for the meeting to be used on the race of your choice – good luck with it!

I have had a look at the races heat by heat and here are my thoughts :

PERTH CUP

Race 1 (Heat 1)

I have ended up tipping the classy veteran Weblec Belle on top in the first heat. Despite not racing up to her very best in recent weeks she was a winner at Mandurah in a Free To All from this box 4 runs ago in 27.81 and she is proven in this sort of class. She also has a good record from box 6 where she has had 15 starts for 7 wins and 6 placings. Jamaica The Fun shows good early pace and looms as the dog to run down while old stager Thunder Rama cannot be left out from the good draw. Finally Kid Kansas is an emerging sprinter who has run the times to be competitive here.

Numbers : 6-3-1-4

Race 2 (Heat 2)

Gun Trainer Paul Stuart has another flying machine in his care in the form of Astrozone. The son of Cosmic Rumble and Starlight Delly has started on 12 occasions for 11 wins and amongst those 11 wins is a track record run 3 starts ago where he stopped the clock in a sizzling 29.56. From the perfect draw Astrozone looks a standout. Who’s Got Snoop is a classy sprinter who will be there to pounce should Astrozone do anything wrong while topliner Fun Boss can also round out a top 3 position. Strong finisher Nordic Warlord could be finishing on into a first four position at big odds.

Numbers : 1-2-3-4

Race 3 (Heat 3)

Pepper Fire is a zippy type who heads into this race in peak form having won a heat and the final of the Group 3 Birthday Cup recently at Mandurah over 405 metres. Returned to town last week when leading throughout in a slick 30.03 and likely to be setting the tempo again in this. Cobra Clutch while racing a little below his best in recent weeks is capable of sharp improvement and it is worth remembering he was successful in a Perth Cup Consolation last year. He has had 7 tries from box one for 4 wins and 2 placings and looms as the main danger. West On Maisie has won her last two starts in easier grade at Mandurah over the 490 metres in fast times and stays under notice while Jaycee is strong and will be hitting the line hard.

Numbers : 4-1-3-8

Race 4 (Heat 4)

I thought this event looked a dead set match race between Krugerrand and Times Square. Krugerrand has returned from a long break in sparkling form winning three straight races. His win last week in the Free For All over the 490 metres at Mandurah was dominant beating Cobra Clutch by more than 10 lengths in a slashing 27.28. Times Square is a winner of 17 of 37 and loves this draw where she has had had 9 tries for 6 wins and a placing. Her win here 3 back in sub 30 seconds is a good indicator that she is going well enough to be right in the finish here. Aristotle Bale won a 600 metre race from this draw last week and can be railing up into a placing while Victor Metti steps up in class but is racing well.

Numbers : 2-8-1-7

Race 5 (Heat 5)

This is another race that I narrowed down to two key hopes. In box two Monaro Monelli looks very well placed. He is a model of consistency and is sure to be barging through hard on the fence through the first corner. He is very strong to the line and if he can sit close in running will take some stopping. Fanta Bale is one of Australia’s most exciting chasers and if she can muster pace and get across into a handy position through the first corner look out. West On Delly is strong and can fill a minor placing while Equanimity is a speedy customer who has shown enough to measure up in this class.

Numbers : 2-8-5-3

Race 8 (Heat 6)

Penny Monelli has been racing in grand fashion in the top grade races here week in week out in recent months and looms as the testing material in this heat. She has had 4 tries from this draw for 3 wins and a placing and has the early pace to fire across into a forward position. Brock On ran a very cheeky race last week when runner-up behind Pepper Fire and is capable of giving a sight at big prices. Sassy Ginger has won 7 of 12 here and returns to WA after some solid runs in Victoria of late while Bold Intention will be running home well after two recent 600 metre runs.

Numbers : 7-6-3-8

Race 11 (Heat 7)

Starlight Asha is a slick beginner who has won 6 of her 9 career starts and while this is a step up in class has the luxury of the box 1 draw. Has broken the 30 second mark and last start was a close up second behind the talented West On Hawkeye in 30.00. Yunderup Dozer has an experience edge over the red runner but is yet to run faster than 30.27 here in 13 tries and will have to go quicker than that to win this. Shell Shocked is flying of late for trainer Enzo Crudeli and comes in with definite claims while Fire Blaze is another speedy customer that can play a part.

Numbers : 1-2-4-6

Race 12 (Heat 8)

The outside runners looked the key chances to my eye in the final heat. Single Sticka in box six can really run a closing sectional as we saw last week when winning a Free To All in 29.78 and his record here of 16 tries for 9 wins and 5 placings speaks for itself. Gold Reserve returned to winning form off the red last week when leading throughout in 30.01 and a similar effort would see him in the mix again. Mendoza Monelli has recorded a flying 29.63 here in the past and while a long way up in class has the engine to run the time to win this while Miss Betsy has drawn perfectly in the red and looks likely to earn.

Numbers : 6-7-8-1

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GALAXY

Race 6 (Heat 1)

Bogie Bekim is a very talented South Australian who could barely have been more impressive last week here over the 715 metres when romping in to defeat Zipping Bella by 6 lengths in a best of night time of 42.12. Had won his 3 prior starts in best of night times and from the good box will take some stopping again. Ramifications is the star local who had won all 4 of his starts over the 715 metres before tasting defeat at his last two runs here behind Caprice Monelli and Teddy Monelli – no surprise to see him return to his brilliant best in this. Obi Kenobi is a well-travelled stayer who has been racing consistently in good company on the east coast while Woodvale Flyer can be included for the skinny end of the prize after an impressive 11.5 length victory in much easier company over the 647 metres at Mandurah last start.

Numbers : 1-2-7-4

Race 7 (Heat 2)

Trip To Eden is in the care of one of Australia’s premier trainers in Jason Thompson and arrives here in top form having won his last three starts at the Meadows, Shepparton and Sale in Best Of Night times. Lofty Ambition made the Galaxy final last year and resumed from a break recently when a winner over 520 metres before having no luck over 600 metres last start – can run a big race at odds. It’s A Fling has put together an impressive career record and won at Wentworth Park over the 720 metres two starts back while Kalden Kamanchee has the perfect draw and has finished no further back than third at his last 5 starts.

Numbers : 2-4-3-1

Race 9 (Heat 3)

Teddy Monelli is in marvellous form heading into this series for trainer David Hobby with his last 5 starts producing 2 wins, 2 seconds and a third. Defeated Ramifications here last week in a quick time of 42.14 and generally makes his own luck with reliable getaways. Victorian stayer Jaimandy Hatty is a very capable type and completed a solo exhibition trial last week over the 600 metres in an impressive 35.03 – looms as the clear threat to Teddy. Olivia Benson is a strong type who can figure in the money while Serena Fly High is capable of much better than what we have seen from her in recent starts.

Numbers : 2-6-4-3

Race 10 (Heat 4)

Winsome April was responsible for a flashing lights run here last week at just her 2^nd run in WA when she overcame interference in the run to rattle home over 600 metres when beaten narrowly. Gave the impression that she would eat up the extra distance for this and has won over the 720 metres at Wentworth Park in the past. Caprice Monelli is clearly the local to beat – she always gets back but with luck in running will be hitting the line hard. Flying Kayla has been somewhat enigmatic since coming to WA but can run a place from the draw while Zipping Bella showed a return to form last week when placed over this trip behind Bogie Bekim.

Numbers : 8-7-1-6

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