Race 5 Mandurah Cup Heat 1
The first of four sensational heats of the Group 2 Mandurah Cup sees the lone interstate representative in Champagne Cuddle (box 6), take on a field of seriously talented locals. Champagne Cuddle has been well backed early and warrants a great deal of respect with his Eastern states form, particularly his record of six wins from his last seven starts on one turn tracks. The bend start of the Mandurah 488m does place some question marks over him with the likes of Sunet Pepe in box 4 and West On Boomer in box 7 showing their early speed. The Victorian has little room for error but is certainly one of the class runners.
Barbeque Man began well last week in a Free-For-All against Molfetta Cruise and Crumble Monelli but was unable to hold out Crumble. He came again late, and the run was full of merit. Not many can hold out Crumble Monelli in a small field and a reproduction of those box manners has him settling forward in this. If that was to eventuate, he would take a stack of beating. Sunset Pepe is racing well but has to deal with Champagne Cuddle early and is no certainty to cross the inside division. In a race like this he needs to lead to win, which makes him a risk.
I’m backing in Barbeque Man to begin well and be too good.
Bet: #3 Barbeque Man
Race 6 Mandurah Cup Heat 2
The second heat of the Mandurah Cup sees Crumble Monelli in his beloved box 1, taking on the likes of dual Group 1 winner Uncle Tommy, and up and comers Bezzechi and Kuro.
I think it could be a simple case of box draws wins races and punters have shopped early with Crumble Monelli. He was run down last week by Molfetta Cruise and Barbeque Man, but the full field here plays right into his hands. If he was to lead, the only two dogs that could run him down are Sunset Serengeti (box 4) and Bezzechi (box 6). Sunset Serengeti is one of the worst drawn greyhounds on the card in between West On Odie (box 3) and Curious Georgia (box 5), whilst Bezzechi enters this race on the fresh side and must negate Uncle Tommy early. There is no excuse in the world for Crumble here.
Bezzechi has drifted since markets open to the point where he is now a saver in the race. Whilst the map is messy, he brings an x-factor to this race and his lack of early speed can often mean speed maps go out the window if there is trouble up front. He is too talented to dismiss.
Bet: #1 Crumble Monelli save #6 Bezzechi
Race 7 Mandurah Cup Heat 3
The last two winners of the National Sprint Championship are locked in battle this race whilst the likes of Sunset Hornet, Molfetta Cruise and West On Boonie cap off another ripping heat.
Saige Tenniele has been racing brilliantly over the staying trips and shattered the 652m track record last start. She’s clearly flying, and this is her box. Her best work in recent months has come on the arm and whilst we don’t have a large sample size because she finds the front so often over those trips, I do wonder what will happen if she gets buried back in a race stacked with speed. Sunset Hornet, Sunset Callisto and Molfetta Cruise will all be charging forward from boxes two, three and four. A rails gap will need to appear at some point for her.
Miss Envy just keeps winning, plain and simple. Whilst she was the recipient of a fortuitous run in the National Sprint, her effort in the WA Sprint demonstrates that she belongs in this grade. A fun 12 months ahead with her. Box 7 on a bend start with so much speed naturally raises questions about where she will be in the run. She will be relying on her talent alone to get home in this.
Molfetta Cruise simply loves Mandurah, and he made light work of Crumble Monelli this week. His early split of 5.59 last week sees him all but lead here and he would not be for catching unless Saige Tenniele was right on his hammer. His challenge is being drawn in the middle but with Inside Scoop in five and West On Boonie in six, he gets enough room to show his best. I think he can get it done.
Bet: #4 Molfetta Cruise
Race 8 Mandurah Cup Heat 4
The last heat of The Mandurah Cup sees track specialist My Anarchy Boy return first up after a month off and looks to be nicely placed to launch a Cup assault. My Anarchy Boy has won nine of fourteen over this trip and has broken the 27-second mark on multiple occasion. He is well drawn in box three where Sunset Mirage in four should leave him alone and you can trust this kennel first up. He has also found one of the more winnable heats which aids his cause further.
Transcendent (box 6) looks the obvious danger but will have his work cut out crossing the likes of Our Benson and Sunset Mirage. He also has to contend with Sunset Nightjar in seven. Transcendent is undefeated here but those efforts were in lower grade. This is the acid test.
Hinto is the defending champion and enters the heats following a few weeks off. He is more than capable but like Transcendent, the box does him no favours.
If My Anarchy Boy brings his best, he wins.
Bet: #3 My Anarchy Boy
Other Selections on the Card
Race 3 #6 Seahorn
Race 4 #3 Chloe Ant
Race 9 #7 Speedy Jeanie (place only)
Race 10 #4 Cut Model
Race 11 #7 Max Capacity