Shortte Previews the Perth Cup

Posted on April 21, 2016April 26, 2016 | Posted by David Shortte

The biggest night on the WA Greyhound racing calendar takes place at TABtouch Park Cannington on Saturday night with the running of the Group 1 Perth Cup over the 520 metres and the Group 1 Galaxy over the 715 metres.

With some of Australia’s best greyhound talent on show it is sure to be a magnificent evening of chasing.

The Perth Cup features only two local greyhounds, with the field made up of runners from NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.

Let’s take a look at the eight runners.

Much improved chaser who has really taken to the new Cannington circuit winning all three starts at the venue. Pinged out from box eight in his heat and despite copping a clip heading into the first corner, brushed it off to clear away for a 2.75 length win in the third fastest qualifying time of 29.97. Has good early pace and the premier draw which are very much in his favour. Will be copping pressure early from the speed dogs in 2, 3 and 6 but if he can hold his spot on the rail he’ll give plenty of cheek. Each way claims.

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Outstanding talent who has found another gear in recently winning his last 5 starts, 3 of them in best of night times. Won the Puppy Classic Final three starts back in 29.91 defeating Topology and Krugerrand in dominant fashion and in last week’s heat could barely have been more impressive when firing straight to the front and beating Thunder Rama by 8.75 lengths in a slick 29.88. That time was just outside Blazin’ Bomber’s 29.85 best of the night and given the way this fellow is chasing of late he is likely to be right in the finish. He appears to be peaking at the precise moment and will take a heap of beating.

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Gun Victorian sprinter who has put together an impressive career record and won two straight at Warragul over the 460 metres in best of night times prior to arriving in WA. Was the fastest qualifier for the final after defeating Golden Easter Egg winner Moreira in a slippery 29.85 from box 3. Has the pace to put himself right in the picture through the first corner and could potentially be camped right on Ramifications down the back straight. If that was the case it would set up a stunning finish. I don’t have much between him and Ramifications.

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Former Tasmanian who made a winning debut in the West last week when on-speed throughout and defeating Weblec Belle by 1.5 lengths in 30.11 which made him the 5^th fastest qualifier. His early split of 5.55 has him in a midfield or worse position through the first corner on my speed map and that is the biggest concern for him heading in to this race. Form in Tasmania prior to arriving had been excellent and he is going to win plenty of races here in WA but given the way this race looks likely to be run I find it hard to see him getting into the forward spot he did in his heat and from there it could be tough.

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Handy sprinter who was forced to work overtime in his heat from a wide draw but dug in for a brave win defeating Sable Island by three quarters of a length in 30.23 which made him the 6^th fastest qualifier. Came from this draw when winning a Free To All over the 520 metres here three starts ago in 30.46 but this is as tough a field as he would have run into in his career and from the squeeze box he’s likely to need a few favours to figure. Prefer to wait for an easier assignment.

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Classy Victorian who came from this draw when runner-up in a Perth Cup Prelude two starts ago in 30.48 and improved greatly for that look in her heat last week when she was able to zoom to the front and streak away for an 8 length victory in 30.02 making her the 4^th fastest qualifier. Won a heat of the Golden Easter Egg 5 starts back in 29.73 and her best is more than capable of measuring up in this class. Does possess blistering early burn and if she was able to zoom over and take up the running could prove tough to get past. Looks the X-Factor dog in that if she could nail the start, she could potentially carve over and be pressuring boxes 1, 2 and 3 on her way over. Dangerous.

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Quality local who has had a great career and always gives it everything he’s got. Sat second behind Science in his heat before forging away to a 30.26 victory making him the 7^th fastest qualifier. The box draw has not done him any great favours – he has had 8 tries from this box in his career for no wins and 3 placings. In saying that, if Shared Equity was to ping and give him a cart over he would suddenly become a sneaky first four chance at very big odds. Hard to knock this dog but this is a hot line-up and I prefer him drawn closer to the fence.

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Was a surprise winner of his heat last week when he was able to kick back after being headed and defeat Marly Bale by a narrow margin as a $36 chance in the time of 30.60. That time was clearly the slowest of the qualifiers but he has run 30.27 here in the past. Has won 3 of his 4 starts here at Cannington but his early splits are going to need to be trimmed up to be in the firing line in the early stages of this event. Is rated the clear cut outsider of this line-up and hard to make a case for him against this level of opposition. Pass.

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SELECTIONS

1^st   2 – Ramifications

2^nd   3 – Blazin’ Bomber

3^rd   1 – Ima Wagtail

4^th   6 – Shared Equity

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