2014 Mandurah Cup Heats Take Centre Stage
Greyhounds WA Mandurah is set to hold five heats of the Group Three Mandurah Cup on Friday night. The main attraction and clear favourite for the $25,000 final is Star Recall, who will be making her return to the track. A number of Mandurah’s best chasers will try their luck against the city greyhounds that have made the trip south from Cannington to compete for their share in the $7,500 heat prizemoney.
Heat One – Race Five at 8.12pm
Thunder Rama (box eight) has been racing very consistently in top company at Cannington of late. His early speed results in him leading time after time but tiring towards the line over the 530-metre distance. The drop in distance should suit him well and his record of two wins and two placing’s from five starts over the 490 at Mandurah proves he is more then capable at the track. Drawing a wide box could prove problematic if chasers like Luba Monelli and Proven Will find the lead early on.
Luba Monelli looks to be another potential leader in the first heat jumping from box four. She will have a clear run to the rails if Deyna (box three) decides to cut hard onto the rails again. She will appreciate the closer box to the rails that gives her an edge over fellow fast jumper Thunder Rama. In her seven starts over the 490 metre distance Luba Monelli has won on two occasions and placed in three others. If she gets out of the boxes quickly she will be a hard dog to run down.
Proven Will’s previous two starts at Cannington have seen him run 30.50’s in Free For All company. With just two starts over Mandurah’s 490-metre distance for one win his record shows that he is capable of handling the track. He has drawn box five on Friday night which could prove problematic if he doesn’t get out and going early on.
Track record holder over the distance Back Jack Tewin is jumping from box six and will have to be close to his best with the city chasers making the track change to Mandurah. Although he is a strong chaser capable of re-recording his 27.08 record he will need to improve on his box manners because he wont be the only chaser rattling home.
Heat Two – Race Six at 8.32pm
My Mate Cobber has only had one start over the 490 in the Mandurah Derby heats back in May where he finished in third place after falling out of the boxes. He doesn’t have the best box manners but after he musters through a field to the lead he is able to clock some pretty impressive times, including consecutive 30.35 and 30.36 times over the 530 at Cannington. Box three should help him in his endeavours to find the lead.
Burundi has drawn the red box, which in four starts has seen him win on two occasions and place in two others at both Mandurah and Cannington. He has the fastest recorded time of 27.37 out of the eight chasers in the field and with the inside box draw he looks to be a good chance of taking out the race.
Cosmic Rambo (box five) for trainer Brad Yates is a last start Northam Anniversary Cup winner. On Monday he did what he does best, jump and win despite racing under an injury cloud. The five-day turn around may be his biggest hurdle come race day, but he is capable of leading this field and holding onto win.
Linda Britton’s third chaser in the second heat is Living Proof. He is having his first start on WA soil after making the move from Victoria. The son of Collide – Casey’s Angel’s claim to fame is taking out the Group Two Great Chase at The Meadows at just his sixth career start. He has to overcome two hurdles to take this race out, box six and returning to race conditions after two months on the sidelines.
Heat Three – Race Seven at 8.57pm
Te Amo’s form prior to her last start at Cannington has been impressive, winning on three out of four occasions and clocking around the 27.60 mark over the 490. Her explosive speed should see her as the likely leader in this heat, especially from box three.
Last week Christine Robartson‘s Last Day won in FFA company on return to Mandurah after a reasonable stint at Cannington. This week he is set to jump from box eight and will need to use his early speed once he hits the ground to gain as much of an advantage from the wide draw. He is more then capable of winning this race, as his four wins from seven runs over the distance suggests.
El Deseo is more then suited to Mandurah’s 490 distance. She is hitting her stride as she finishes over the 405, but tires as she is heading towards the finishing post over the 530 at Cannington. Her early speed allows her to muster up, which gives her the added advantage of missing any trouble behind. El Deseo is set to jump from box seven which could make things harder for her when she tries to find the lead, but if she is in front by enough she could come away with the win.
Egotistical’s form hasn’t been consistent but he has the talent and the speed to produce some great runs in impressive times. He has recorded the second fastest time of 27.54 out of the heat runners behind Te Amo’s sizzling 27.26. From box six he will need to be up to his best to beat this field.
Heat Four – Race Eight at 9.12pm
Star Recall currently holds the crown as WA’s best chaser. She has broken the magical 30-second barrier on two occasions, with her fastest time of 29.85 recorded just two weeks ago. Her record at Mandurah is just as impressive with seven starts for seven wins. Despite drawing box five in the heat she is a class above the field and should come away with an easy victory.
Bingle Monelli is dropping back in distance this week and will exit from box four. She is also a likely leader along side Star Recall in this race and should make use of the box closer to the rails. It will be hard for her to beat Star Recall but she looks to be the best chance to give Star Recall a run for her money.
Bluey’s Fate (box three) has been in good form lately despite going without a win for 14 starts. She has only missed a minor placing on four occasions in those starts. A lot is going to have to go right for Bluey’s Fate to win, she is a better place chance.
Princess Alyssa is another speedy beginner in this heat. Box eight won’t do her any favours, especially because she doesn’t hit the line that strong. If there is trouble behind her after box-rise she will defiantly be up there in the placing’s.
Heat Five – Race Nine at 9.27pm
Ozzie Bullet is set to jump from box two in his first start at Mandurah since making the trip from Victoria. In his three starts on WA soil has had two wins and one third, with his best-recorded time being 30.53. The inside draw will give him the advantage he needs to lead chasers like Astronomic.
Astronomic is having his second run back in WA after a successful stint in Victoria. He is fast out of the boxes, but box eight may be his undoing considering he hasn’t won from wider than box six. He is a talented chaser that is hard to pass up in this field.
Houdini Monelli has joined the likes of Ozzie Bullet and Astronomic in recent starts, running second to Ozzie Bullet in two consecutive races. His box manners aren’t the best but box one may give him the advantage he needs early on in the race.
Linda Smithson‘s Cheeky Bling isn’t the best of beginners but has been performing well over the 530 at Cannington. Last week he made his debut over the 490 and finished in fourth place, he should benefit from the run. Jumping from box four he is a good place chance in this race.
The winners of each of the heats and the three fastest second placegetters will make up next week’s Group Three Mandurah Cup final.