2022 Sandown Cup preview & best bets | Thursday, May 19
Sandown's night of nights takes place on Thursday with the running of three Group 1 feature events, including the prestigious Sandown Cup over the 715m distance.
Michelle Mallia has two greyhounds in the $175,000-to-the-winner final, but race favourite Mepunga Ruby has drawn beautifully in box two for Jeffrey Britton and she is all the rage on early markets.
In the other Group 1 races, the Harrison-Dawson Memorial takes place over 515m for the dogs, while the bitches get their chance to shine in the Sapphire Crown.
Sandown Cup Final
ORCA (Steve Nagy) – Box one is always a bonus in finals but others may have a couple of lengths on him.
MEPUNGA RUBY (Jeffrey Britton) – Had a month without racing prior to running second here in the heats last week and that will have topped her off. Has drawn nicely in box two. Top pick.
COLLINDA LADY (Jason Thompson) – Toughest assignment yet but. Has early pace inside of her which she will need to track early.
GYPSY WYONG (Andrea Dailly) – Great bitch but has only won twice of last 15 starts. Place chance.
ASTON VELVET (Michelle Mallia) – Poorly drawn and a place chance is best.
GOLDEN QUEST (Michelle Mallia) – Has early pace on her outside and may struggle to keep up early.
UNTAPPED (Dustin Drew) – Will have Warrnambool cheering her on. Can lead and has the maturity now.
JARRICK BALE (Mark Delbridge) – Could get a nice cart into the race from Untapped who is reliable early.
(Reserves: Collinda Patty, Rohan Bale)
Harrison-Dawson Memorial Final
TITAN BLAZER for Daniel Gibbons is first pick on the fact that he has drawn pretty well in box three. Usually when this son of Mepunga Blazer x Miss Tron draws boxes one to three he goes a lot better, as seen in his win last week from the red box. RAPAKI ROCKS if untouched in the first 100 metres is a huge chance, while BANG for Jeffrey Britton is an each-way hope if it avoids trouble from out in box eight.
Sapphire Crown Final
Despite having not won in her last four attempts, we are picking LEVITATION for Jacqueline Greenough to beat the popular WOW SHE'S FAST, who has drawn poorly in five but is still our second pick. IDOLIZE has drawn well in box two for Peter Presutto and can win if the middle boxes jam up on the first turn.