Expect fierce competition at Cannington this Saturday as some of the best greyhounds in the land battle it out over eight heats of the Group 1 SKY Racing Perth Cup (530m) and four heats of the Group 1 SKY Racing Galaxy (715m).
It is sudden death in the cut-throat Perth Cup series with only the winner going through to Next week’s final while the top two will earn a place in the big dance in the Galaxy heats.
Race 1 (Perth Cup heat 1): Former WA, now Vic-based, trainer Norm Rinaldi brings a great double-pronged attack with General Destini in the Perth Cup and Destini Fireball in the Galaxy. General Destini narrowly missed out on a spot in the final last year but he did take out the Group 3 Consolation. From the pole he’s a huge chance. Keybrow looks a very promising type and is posting good results. Hawk Alone is a bigtime racedog but he has not been performing at his best of late. West On Santo is a smokey if he can reproduce something similar to the 30.48 he ran last week. Sunday Morning is in good form but faces a sheer rise in class here.
Race 2 (Perth Cup heat 2): It is a bit early to say if Hillbilly Flash is the Next big thing out of Paul Stuart’s ‘champion factory’ but with three impressive wins from his last three starts he could be on his way. He is highly rated by his trainer and from the red should be a big show. Next box over Veyron Bale has claims for Andrea Dailly. Veyron Bale has raced (and won) on this circuit before and he scored a nice win in the Paws of Thunder heats at Wentworth Park a few weeks back.
Race 3 (Perth Cup heat 3): Iona Seven comes into this series following an impressive victory in the Paws Of Thunder. She is one the big guns but faces a tricky task from a wide draw against a good field. Liara Allen looks a fine young chaser. She’s scored over both the 500m and 600m in Melbourne in recent times. Ritza Liam has doing good things since he arrived in WA last month but this will test him. Burzynski can insert himself into the race from the rails alley if he can get a good launch.
Race 4 (Perth Cup heat 4) Just how good is Zelemar Fever? This race will go some way towards providing an answer. She has looked a million dollars over the past few months with some dominating efforts, including a personal best of 29.90 last start. Most of those wins have come from inside boxes however and there is a query on her from a wide draw, which she has here. I think she will be good enough especially as this is not the strongest heat. Kennelmate Te Amo is a danger if she finds the bunny. Victorian raider Jordan Allen is handy but no superstar while fellow eastern states chaser Mepunga Fearon did not overly impress on his first look at the track last week.
Race 5 (Perth Cup heat 5) Last year’s Perth Cup winner Dyna Nalin (pictured) has given just cause to doubts about the viability of his title defence. A risky prospect at the best of times due to his sluggish early speed his two runs back since winning the Sale Cup have been a little lackluster and he has drawn to do it tough here in box seven. Of course that is just the sort of situation Dyna Nalin thrives in. He is capable of producing something brilliant when he needs it most and he can never be ruled out. Do not underestimate him as he will be right amongst this. The Linda Britton-prepared chaser Gone To Heaven is a massive threat. She suffered her first defeat last start but she had been running some slick times prior to that. Andrea Dailly’s youngster Allen Deed looked good going through the grades but he has struck quicksand against higher grade opposition.
Race 6 (Galaxy heat 1): Given the lack of depth in WA’s staying ranks, Victorian pair Gold Affair Two and Sweet It Is should have their way with this heat. Gold Affair Two has plenty of experience although she has not raced for over month while Sweet It Is comes into this off a big win in the Victorian Cup last start. Freeway Ace might be able to cause an upset if he brings his A-game.
Race 7 (Galaxy heat 2): With the Bold Trease already locked away in the trophy cabinet Robert Britton’s stayer Cheetah Zorro is here with the aim of securing her second Group 1. She is a classy type but will need to overcome the pink. Ash Flash has looked pretty good since joining Paul Stuart’s team and will be a big threat. Houdini Monelli goes OK over this distance but will probably need to break 42 seconds if he is to win here, something which he has not been able to do in 15 previous attempts. Evergreen chaser Pedro’s Finest will step into the stretch-vest for another crack at the Galaxy and he is a rough hope to qualify for the final from the pole.
Race 8 (Perth Cup heat 6): High Recall’s rapid ascension through the grades has been spectacular but her conquests have been ant-hills compared with the mountain she faces here. She has won seven of ten and clocked some fast times along the way but tackling this field from the lemon is a different challenge again. Dyna Beth brings mixed form into this series but she has big race experience having been runner-up in the Melbourne Cup and must be respected. Fancy Dreamer is a very fine young chaser and he confirmed his recent good form when he produced a sparkling run of 30.26 last start. He has got box seven but is three from three out of that alley. Zipping Joe has good form over longer journeys and should be finishing strongly.
Race 9 (Galaxy heat 3): This heat presents us with a mouthwatering clash between the established star Destini Fireball and the upstart talent Dyna Willow. With four group 1s to his name, Destini Fireball is a worthy successor to Miata’s title as the nation’s best stayer. Although he has not won a race since he captured the Group 2 AWM Distance Championship at the Meadows in July he has been competitive every time and you can never write off a champion. Dyna Willow beat Destini Fireball by the smallest of margins the last time both these dogs raced and the Steve Collins-trained stayer is starting to build an impressive career. It is hard to separate them. Local chasers Em Three and Reverberate have been racing well but are not up to this class.
Race 10 (Galaxy heat 4): Born Ali is well placed for a forward showing from the inside. The Robert Britton-trained chaser has contested several big finals in recent times and is a strong hope to make another one here. Angela Langton’s Infinite Wish did enough to win first up at Cannington last week and she should be better for the run. Maddison Dee has won her last two starts, including over 715m at the Meadows. She looks handy enough to be force in this if she handles her wide draw. Dyna Werribee has also won last start and has been travelling OK of late.
Race 11 (Perth Cup heat 7): Ollie Bale has misfired in three starts since winning the Silver Chief but he remains a serious talent. A wide draw does not assist his chances of rebounding to the winner’s circle but he is good enough if he brings his best. Crump returns to Cannington following his WA Derby campaign last year. He won a heat in 30.38 on that occasion and has been cleaning up on the Victorian country circuits over the past month. If he makes it through to the final it would not surprise. Star Recall has been doing great things at Mandurah with wins from his last four starts but this a big rise in class.
Race 12 (Perth Cup heat 8): With victories from his past five runs, including the Group 2 Gosford Cup, Awesome Project rides high on the crest of a wave into the Perth Cup series. This is his first time on the surface and he will jump in pink but the Darren McDonald-prepared racedog cannot be underestimated. Sveta Monelli is also out wide but she has the speed to find the lead from anywhere and is likely to do so in this one. She has been a remarkably consistent performer for trainer David Hobby, having only missed a top three placing once from her past 14 starts, during which time she has collected nine wins. She is on her home turf and she will be hard to topple. Last start Meadows winner Prue Bale also has claims from the red.
Best Bet: Hillbilly Flash (Race 2)
Best Value: Crump (Race 11)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 4, 5, 7
Race 6 – 7, 8
Race 7 – 6, 8
Race 8 – 3, 5, 6, 7
$20 for 41.66%
